22 March 2022 Over the past quiet months for the natural world, Simon Berrow’s been in the throes of what he calls “shark fever”. “I dream about basking sharks all winter. I have shark fever, which is common amongst people who work with them. You become obsessed with them,” the Read more…
25 February 2022 A Marine Protected Area or ‘MPA’ is a vital tool in improving ocean health. MPAs are being created by nations across the globe to help fight against climate change and protect biodiversity. So given their importance and the ecological crises we find ourselves in, why does Ireland Read more…
17 December 2021 A Bill before the Seanad today that is set to determine how Ireland manages its marine territory will be a “lose-lose situation” if passed as is, environmental groups have warned. The Sustainable Water Network (SWAN) and the Environmental Pillar have urged the Government to defer the Maritime Read more…
5 November 2021 Decarbonising the energy sector is an important component of limiting global warming to below 1.5 degrees. But is our current approach in pursuit of offshore renewables risking the exacerbation of the biodiversity crisis? In 2019, the Dáil declared both a climate and biodiversity emergency but at present, Read more…
21 October 2021 Ireland is headed towards substantial obstacles for renewable energy if it does not immediately change course on marine planning, according to environmental groups. Sustainable Water Network (SWAN) and the Environmental Pillar issued their warning today as the Maritime Area Planning Bill makes its way through Committee Stage. Read more…
11 May 2021 Ireland has lost a full decade in its rollout of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), an Oireachtas Committee heard today. Expert marine witnesses came before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action (JOCCA) and warned that legislation to designate such areas was two years away amidst the ongoing Read more…
4 February 2021 Last week, the Department of Housing published a report on expanding our Marine Protected Area (MPA) network here in Ireland. Which, naturally, got us thinking about them, and we wanted to find out more. What does the picture look like for MPAs right now? Why are they Read more…
September 2nd, 2019 The expansion of the Irish dairy herd is placing significant pressure on aquatic biodiversity, a conference on marine protected areas (MPA) heard today. Speaking at the Bigger and Better MPA conference at Trinity College Dublin, Dr David Lyons of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) said Read more…