This web site provides public information about the NEPHROPS project. The project was initiated by the coordinating SME association, Orkney Fisheries Association, and is funded by EU’s FP7 – Research for the benefit of SME associations.
Official start date of the project was on February 1st, 2012. The duration of the project is 36 months.
Project Description
The NEPHROPS project aims at developing new techniques in hatchery, rearing, fishery enhancement and aquaculture for Nephrops.
Fisheries landings of Nephrops novegicus (also known as Dublin Bay Prawn, Norway Lobster and Langoustine, among other names) are around 59,000 tons a year with a first sale value of close to € 200 million. The NEPHROPS project is intended to bring together complementary information from survey, experimental and laboratory work. This combination of approaches is intended to create synergies and transfer of information between different research groups and the different SME and SME associations and groupings.
Project Results
National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG) deployed Sequential Coded Wire Tags on Nephrops
Scientists of NUIG have successfully deployed Sequential coded wire tag (sCWT) on two hundreds Dublin bay prawn (Nephrops norvegicus). sCWT is a 1.1 mm length of stainless steel wire, 0.25 mm in diameter, with both a batch code (to uniquely identify the spool from which the tag was cut) and an individual number. Their application in mark-recapture studies can be used to identify a single individual in order to provide growth measurement, survival and residency of prawns in suitable sites. Pre-cut tags are supplied mounted in columns on waterproof paper, with the reference tags and those to be injected clearly identified (Fig.2). The tags to be used are loaded, one at a time, into the syringe for a ventral injection into the musculature of the 3rd abdominal segment (Fig.3).
University of Gothenburg trial novel baits
The University of Gothenburg are currently experimenting with novel baits for use in the marine environment.
