This project was successful in delivering a full report to review research undertaken within the DRMPA between 2020-2025. The report was able to provide spatial analysis to enable the visualisation of potential significant relationships between the marine environment, such as depth, habitat distribution, and the location of important physical features, and the presence/abundance of prey species and key predators. Areas were also identified where existing research should be consolidated, particularly in finer scale mapping of the seabed, the introduction of consistent methodologies for fish surveys, potential new locations for survey trawls and repeat surveys to establish the consistency of findings in a system with high temporal and spatial variation.
A summary report was also produced for circulation with the local community, which will provide a starting point for community discussions about the next stage of the MPA and where its focus should lie, bringing into perspective the kinds of questions that need to be asked. Community feedback on the report so far has been positive, suggesting that the production of a less technical summary report for the community will be a positive contribution to helping the community understand the work of FIMRO and the DRMPA, what has been achieved and what more there is to do.
Through the SMEEF grant, an external research consultant were commissioned to produce the report to support FIMRO aims to build upon existing research, identify research gaps in the area and implications for future directions for this important location. An external review of the research to date is helpful in providing an independent assessment of progress and recommendations for next steps from a different point of view to the internal culture of the DRMPA and FIMRO.
The report findings, in terms of identified research gaps, findings that suggest more research is required and the consultant’s recommendations for next steps will all be utilised by FIMRO going forward. Research gaps and areas for further research highlighted within the report will be brought into discussions with the local community and DRMPA Steering Committee when developing the next research priorities document, which will aim to cover 2026 – 2030.
In 2025 SMEEF was able to provide a grant of £27,847 using resources from the Nature Restoration Fund.