The intensification of human activities in marine ecosystems, compounded by the effects of climate change, is driving a global decline in biodiversity.

Particularly concerning are the significant losses among high trophic level predators such as elasmobranchs and seabirds due to their important roles in maintaining ecosystem structure, function, and resilience. In response, several international and national strategies have been developed to halt these declines and support species recovery. In Northern Ireland, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) recently launched the Northern Ireland Elasmobranch and Seabird Conservation Strategies which identified key knowledge gaps that must be addressed to enable effective, evidence based management of both groups. For elasmobranchs, these gaps include limited information on local distribution and habitat use, while for seabirds, gaps remain in at-sea data, particularly in relation to foraging areas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Addressing these gaps and fulfilling the monitoring requirements of each strategy will require a multifaceted approach that incorporates complementary survey methods. Baited Remote Underwater Video systems (BRUVs) could form a valuable component of this toolbox, offering a targeted, non-intrusive, approach for understanding elasmobranch habitat use and collecting in situ prey data to support seabird foraging studies. These camera systems have been used to survey motile marine fauna across a range of habitats, using bait to attract species into the camera’s field of view. Importantly, BRUVs are non-extractive and non-destructive, making them ideal for monitoring threatened species and protected or fragile habitats, without compromising conservation objectives. Although, BRUVs have been widely deployed in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly in Oceania, their use in northern temperate latitudes, such as the Northeast Atlantic, has remained relatively limited until recently. Emerging studies from these often turbid and dynamic seas highlight both the potential of BRUVs and the challenges associated with their use, such as reduced visibility and strong tidal currents. Overcoming these limitations will require refinements to existing BRUV configurations to better suit temperate coastal conditions. Accordingly, my project focuses on refining BRUV methodologies for use in northern temperate waters and applying them as decision support tools for the monitoring and management of priority species (e.g., elasmobranchs and seabirds) in Northern Irish waters and beyond.