Publication Abstract

The western Irish Sea gyre: a retention mechanism for the Norway Lobster (Nephrops norvegicus)?

A.E. Hill, J. Brown and L. Fernand

Recently a cyclonic, near-surface, gyre has been discovered above the deep (> 100 m) western basin of the Irish Sea. The gyre is present each year only during spring and summer (the surface heating season), and circulates around a static dome of cold bottom water left beneath the thermocline after the previous winter. The mud substrate of the western Irish Sea is geographically isolated and is the habitat for adult Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus). In spring, newly hatched larvae are released into the water column, spending approximately 50 days in the plankton. Recruitment depends upon settlement of metamorphosed larvae onto the mud patch. Larval distributions show a strong correspondence to the field of stratification and it is probable that the gyre acts as a retention mechanism, helping to maintain the population on the mud patch.

Reference:

A.E. Hill, J. Brown and L. Fernand, 1996. The western Irish Sea gyre: a retention mechanism for the Norway Lobster (Nephrops norvegicus)? Oceanologica Acta, 19: 357-368.