"This legislation must not only detail how we effectively manage any new MPAs in the future, but how we better implement protected sites that currently exist. The Fair Seas report said it was possible to increase the level to 36%, and that doing so would not only help restore biodiversity, but also act as vast carbon stores in the climate change crisis.Ĭampaign manager for Fair Seas Aoife O’Mahony said the new legislation will allow Ireland to meet its national and international target of protecting at least 30% of our waters by 2030. The Oireachtas climate committee has published recommendations that Fair Seas said should be reflected in the bill when published.įair Seas last year released an influential report that found a mere 2% of Ireland's coast which is designated as marine protected area must increase 18-fold in order to restore and enhance endangered species such as sharks, puffins, and even blue whales. The originally proposed bill was criticised by environmental groups earlier this year as "falling very short", with "weak and ambiguous language overall", as they addressed the Oireachtas climate committee. Heritage Minister Malcolm Noonan told the conference the legislation is due to be brought to Cabinet before the Oireachtas summer recess in July. The EU's Marine Strategy Framework Directive legally compels member states to establish MPAs. The marine bill currently going through the Oireachtas aims to cement the country's ambition to protect 30% of its maritime area by the end of the decade. "Your beautiful Emerald Isle sits like a jewel in the North Atlantic Ocean, and your enormous maritime area makes you the guardian of ocean giants, rare coral reefs of the deep, and steep staging posts of global important soaring seabird colonies," Dr Earle said. They're home to a stunning array of marine life, from the tiniest forage fish to seabirds, whales, dolphins, and sharks. "The waters surrounding Ireland are rich, with beautiful deepwater corals, magnificent basking sharks. You must speak for them and for the children of the future who cannot be here to make the decisions that are now up to you. This is why the organisation has been so effective.The Mission Blue founder said stakeholder engagement was fundamental to decide how the new protected areas would be managed.Įveryone has a stake in the outcomes, including the fish, the whales, and the birds. Sea Shepherd operates across all of these sectors through providing vessels for researchers, leading and supporting compliance operations, and generating grass-roots momentum. Front line compliance operations need to enforce the regulations and treaties. Policy developers and implementers need work the system from the inside. The research community needs to generate the defensible evidence for change. Community members need to generate grass-roots momentum. Making change requires participation and efforts from a range of sources. Joining Sea Shepherd was a natural fit for me and now having been the master of most of the Sea Shepherd vessels on a range of campaigns, I feel the need and importance of our work continues to increase. ”I have been working in the marine research and conservation sector for 35 years as a vessel master, researcher leader and operations leader.
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