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Fair Seas Welcomes €25m Funding for Protection of Irish Seas

27th February 2024
A humpback whale feeding off the coast of the coast of County Kerry
A humpback whale feeding off the coast of the coast of County Kerry Credit: Nick Massett

Ireland's leading environmental NGOs and networks coalition, Fair Seas, has welcomed the announcement of €25 million in new funding for the protection of Irish seas. The European Commission has allocated €15 million, which is matched by €10 million from the government, to support the implementation of the EU's environmental and climate ambitions under the European Green Deal. These funds are part of a €233 million strategic investment to mobilise substantial additional funds from other EU sources, national governments and private sector investment.

Fair Seas has been campaigning for the protection of 30% of the seas around Ireland by 2030, including an EU Biodiversity Strategy recommended target of 10% strict protection. The coalition's coordinator, Dr. Donal Griffin, welcomed the funding and said, "At a time when the focus of legislators and civil society is on getting the Marine Protected Areas Bill published in the Dáil as soon as possible, it's an important reminder that without adequate resources the forthcoming Bill won’t achieve what we need it to achieve." 

Dr Griffin was recently interviewed about the effects of government plans for marine protection on watersports by Afloat here

Dr. Griffin added, "We estimate that overall, €55 million is needed to deliver a network of objective-driven, well-managed, monitored and enforced MPAs. Therefore, securing almost half of this resource in early 2024 is highly encouraging." 

Fair Seas published the first Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Finance Report in Europe last year, highlighting the cost to conserve and restore vital marine ecosystems. The report estimates that €55 million is required to adequately fund MPA designation and ongoing management until 2030.

Emma Armshaw, Marine And Coastal Policy Officer with the Sustainable Water Network, spoke on behalf of the Fair Seas Coalition and said, "A strong and ambitious MPA law that is well implemented is an incredibly important contribution to achieving the state's biodiversity targets and delivering healthy seas. Therefore, protecting our marine environment properly is a double win, especially as we are in the midst of a twin biodiversity and climate crises. But time is running out, we need a strong and ambitious MPA law as soon as possible."

A Puffin with a loaded, colorful beak with half a dozen fish to feed her chick Photo: Peter LoughlinA Puffin with a loaded, colorful beak with half a dozen fish to feed her chick Photo: Peter Loughlin

The MPA legislation was expected to be introduced before the Dáil summer recess in July 2023 and again before the end of 2023, but both targets were missed. The latest update from the Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform confirmed that drafting is at an advanced stage and is expected to be ready for publication this quarter.

The funding awarded to these twelve strategic projects will support Bulgaria, Czechia, Ireland, Spain, France, Italy, Lithuania, Austria, Poland and Finland to reach their national environmental and climate targets as they ramp up their contributions to the EU's green transition.

For more information about Fair Seas here

Published in Marine Wildlife
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Marine Wildlife Around Ireland One of the greatest memories of any day spent boating around the Irish coast is an encounter with marine wildlife.  It's a thrill for young and old to witness seabirds, seals, dolphins and whales right there in their own habitat. As boaters fortunate enough to have experienced it will testify even spotting a distant dorsal fin can be the highlight of any day afloat.  Was that a porpoise? Was it a whale? No matter how brief the glimpse it's a privilege to share the seas with Irish marine wildlife.

Thanks to the location of our beautiful little island, perched in the North Atlantic Ocean there appears to be no shortage of marine life to observe.

From whales to dolphins, seals, sharks and other ocean animals this page documents the most interesting accounts of marine wildlife around our shores. We're keen to receive your observations, your photos, links and youtube clips.

Boaters have a unique perspective and all those who go afloat, from inshore kayaking to offshore yacht racing that what they encounter can be of real value to specialist organisations such as the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) who compile a list of sightings and strandings. The IWDG knowledge base has increased over the past 21 years thanks in part at least to the observations of sailors, anglers, kayakers and boaters.

Thanks to the IWDG work we now know we share the seas with dozens of species who also call Ireland home. Here's the current list: Atlantic white-sided dolphin, beluga whale, blue whale, bottlenose dolphin, common dolphin, Cuvier's beaked whale, false killer whale, fin whale, Gervais' beaked whale, harbour porpoise, humpback whale, killer whale, minke whale, northern bottlenose whale, northern right whale, pilot whale, pygmy sperm whale, Risso's dolphin, sei whale, Sowerby's beaked whale, sperm whale, striped dolphin, True's beaked whale and white-beaked dolphin.

But as impressive as the species list is the IWDG believe there are still gaps in our knowledge. Next time you are out on the ocean waves keep a sharp look out!