Sentinel Vessel Programme (SVP) Daily Fishing Operations

The Sentinel Vessel Programme (SVP) was set up by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) in conjunction with the Marine Institute (MI) to record self-sample information on daily fishing operations data from a subset of Inshore fishing vessels (predominantly < 12 meters) around the Irish coast. Prior to 2025 the programme was administered by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) as a pilot project funded by the Data Collection Framework (DCF). in 2025 the Marine Institute took over the administration of the programme. Vessels are chosen from different length and gear categories representative of fishing activity by vessels under 12 m around the Irish coast. From 2013 to 2024 data recording was done by distributing hard copy logbooks to the skippers participating on the programme. In 2025 a mobile phone app was rolled out to capture the SVP data electronically. 2025 SVP data was captured using both the hard copy logbooks and mobile phone app. From 2026 onward all SVP data will be recorded electronically using the mobile phone app.

On return of the logbooks to the Marine Institute the data is digitised and is stored in a SQL database. The mobile phone data is electronically transferred to a webapp managed by the Marine Institute and is also stored in a database.

The data recorded in SVP logbooks include catches, landings and discards of several species, i.e. Homarus gammarus (Lobster), Cancer pagurus(Brown Crab), Maja brachydactyla (Spider Crab), Necora puber (Velvet Crab), Buccinum undatum(Whelk), Ensis sp. (Razor clams), Cerastoderma edule (Cockle) and various finfish species. The fishing location is recorded at either ICES Statistical Rectangle or Inshore Grid Resolution and additional details such as the type and amount of bait used or vessel operating costs (i.e. fuel consumption, number of crew, hours worked.). Additionally, although to a lesser extent (every five fishing days), length frequency data for lobsters and crabs may be included. Due to under 12 meter vessels not being required to fill in an EU logbook, catch and effort data from small coastal vessels around Ireland is limited. The Sentinel Vessel Programme along with other at sea sampling programmes managed by the Marine Institute enable data from smaller vessels around the Irish coast to be recorded.