Marine Fishes

In 2010, as part of the initiative to review the State of Knowledge on Ireland’s Biological Diversity the National Biodiversity Data Centre produced an inventory of sources of biodiversity data. The inventory was developed by inviting recognised national experts to identify the state of knowledge.

The Biodiversity Inventory is laid complete in sections following taxonomic grouping with an overview. Each section follows the same format; Irish checklist, number of species, primary sources of distribution data, National conservation assessment, and monitoring or repeat surveys in place. This layout allows the reader to compare the state of knowledge of different groups.

Long-spined sea scorpion (Taurulus bubalis) – Dave Wall

Irish checklist

No Irish specific-species checklist published since Went & Kennedy (1976). General reviews by Wheeler (1992); Quigley (1996 & 2000), Purcell (1996), Wheeler et al. (2004), Ferriss et al. (2009).
Updated draft List of Irish Marine Fishes (Quigley 2024, 582 species)

Painted Goby (Pomatoschistus pictus) – Dave Wall

Number of species of marine fishes

582 (a complete updated checklist is being prepared by D. Quigley and will be available in 2025).

251 species inshore (<200m depth) (132 exclusively inshore)
448 species offshore (>200m depth) (331 exclusively offshore)

Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) – Dave Wall

Primary sources of distribution data

Comprehensive records held by Declan Quigley, SFPA for 142+ species (majority published in the Irish Naturalists Journal 1984-2024), including Rare marine fishes taken in Irish waters from 1786 to 2008 Data Set*.
Marine Institute: Acoustic Surveys; Mackerel and Horse Mackerel Egg Surveys; Deepwater Survey; Biological Survey; Anglerfish Survey; Irish Groundfish Survey.
Bord Iascaigh Mhara: Bluefin Tuna tagging (Cosgrove et al. 2008); Spanish demersal survey reports for the Porcupine Bank.
Published data: Bluefin Tuna tracking data (Stokesbury et al, 2007; Horton et al., 2020; Pagniello et al., 2023)
National Biodiversity Data Centre: Chondrichthyans Of Ireland Databases* (Open Access & Restricted).
Inland Fisheries Ireland: Water Framework Directive Database – fish in transitional waters (estuaries and lagoons); Marine Sports Fish Tagging Database (elasmobranchs).
Irish Whale and Dolphin Group / Irish Basking Shark Group: IWDG Basking Shark Database*. IWDG Tuna Sightings (Horton et al, 2021).
Purse Search Ireland: Shark and Ray Eggcase Sightings Scheme Data, 2007-2018*

Full * or Partial † Data Sets held by NBDC and made accessible through Biodiversity Maps.

Cuckoo Wrasse (Labrus mixtus) – Dave Wall

National conservation assessment

Commercial species: Fisheries Science Service. The Stock Book: Annual Reviews of Fish Stocks with management advice. Marine Institute Galway.
King, J., Marnell, F., Kingston, N., Rosell, R., Roche, W. & Cassidy, D. (2011). Ireland Red List No. 5: Freshwater fish, amphibians and reptiles. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Dublin, Ireland (includes fish in transitional waters).
Clarke, M., Farrell, E.D., Roche, W., Murray, T.E., Foster, S. and Marnell, F. (2016). Ireland Red List No. 11: Cartilaginous fish [sharks, skates, rays and chimaeras]. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Dublin, Ireland.
No National conservation assessment of other species.

Lesser-spotted Dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula) – Dave Wall

Monitoring or repeat surveys in place

Commercial species: Fisheries Science Service. The Stock Book: Annual Reviews of Fish Stocks with management advice. Marine Institute Galway.
Fish in transitional waters are monitored through the Water Framework Directive Fish Monitoring Programme, approximately 65 species (Inland Fisheries Ireland).