The SmartBay cabled observatory in Galway Bay is delivering groundbreaking real-time monitoring of Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) behaviour through its seabed cameras—think of it as Nephlix, where these elusive prawns star in their own live-action drama!

Part of the EMSO network and first activated for Nephrops studies during projects like Smart Lobster in 2021, the observatory is capturing unprecedented footage of burrow digging, upkeep, and emergence in one of Ireland’s key North‑East Atlantic Nephrops fishing grounds. During recent crystal‑clear conditions, fisheries scientists were able to watch and record these cryptic crustaceans energetically excavating silt, fending off opportunistic crabs, and maintaining their signature U‑shaped burrows—revealing ecological patterns that traditional surveys often miss.

These observations are advancing stock assessment for Nephrops, Ireland’s most valuable prawn fishery, worth roughly €61 million in recent landings and essential to many coastal communities.

Binge-watching is encouraged at SmartBay Observatory | DigitalOcean.ie – no subscription required to keep up with the daily Nephropisode!

Only interested in the highlight reel?

  • Nephrops norvegicus excavating silt from their burrow:

https://smartbay.marine.ie/data/video/SmartBayCam1/2026/02/09/SmartBayCam1_2026-02-09_1021.mp4

  • Burrow under attack by a crab:

smartbay.marine.ie/data/video/SmartBayCam1/2026/02/08/SmartBayCam1_2026-02-08_1354.mp4

smartbay.marine.ie/data/video/SmartBayCam1/2026/02/13/SmartBayCam1_2026-02-13_1449.mp4

  • Burrow maintenance/spring cleaning:

smartbay.marine.ie/data/video/SmartBayCam1/2026/02/09/SmartBayCam1_2026-02-09_1703.mp4

 

 

If you are interested in accessing the video footage recorded by SmartBay observatory for scientific purposes, don’t hesitate to contact the Marine Research Infrastructures Team under infrastructures@Marine.ie.

 

Figure 1: Nephrops norvegicus captured by SmartBay’s seabed camera system in August 2020. Credits: Marine Institute

Figure 2: A Nephrops norvegicus emerging from its burrow, a still of the video material gathered at the SmartBay Observatory in February 2026. Credits: Marine Institute

 

Authors:

Paul Gaughan and Yvonne Wiese (Marine Institute)