Northern Ireland’s first boat-based environmental charity, Citizen Sea, will be presenting several events about the marine environment in Northern Ireland in Belfast from the 24th of February-10th March.
Citizen Sea is a grassroots charity, empowering people to engage with and learn about their local marine environment, using science and experiences to help protect our seas.
Citizen Sea’s vessel has its home in Bangor Marina. It aims is to inspire people through experiences at sea to love, protect and appreciate the marine environment and they engage with people through citizen science, practical action, and education.
On 24th February Marine Biologist Amy Mundye will present Talk and Print at the Belfast Print Workshop in Cotton Court in the city’s Cathedral Quarter. It will feature her published research on microplastics, and hermit crabs and artist Linda Barbour will present a screen printing taster session.
The event titled the Power of the Sea on 27 February in the Belfast Barge at Lanyon Quay will include contributions from three people whose lives are intrinsically linked to the sea. There will be a talk by Bangor legend Brian Meharg MBE, about his life on the water and with Bangor RNLI. He’s well known as the Bangor Boat Man and has been part of the boating community in North Down for many years. Brian will be telling some amazing stories from his time with the lifeboat, and life on the open seas. Jessica McWilliams will share what the sea means to her personally and why she's hooked on sea swimming! Aileen McClenaghan, who has been employed by a mental health charity for the past 18 years and is currently tutoring Environment and Art classes to adults with learning disabilities, often uses her spare-time at the coast beachcombing and litter-picking. Aileen will be talking about some of her frequent and more unusual finds and how important it is for us all to connect with the sea. This series of events will raise some much-needed funds for activities such as science clubs and training for volunteers, as well as awareness around the marine environment and plastic pollution.
On 3rd March at St Joseph’s Church in Sailortown, photographer Phil Wilkinson who is a recreational SCUBA diver with Seasearch Northern Ireland, will be showing some incredible underwater photos that he has recently taken locally showing the diverse life under the sea. Volunteers like Phil are passionate about recording marine life and helping with conservation issues. And at the same venue on 10th March Sally Chamberlain, Regional Manager Seafish, will talk about her work with the local Seafood industry.
Also present in the Barge will be artist, Grainne Laverty, who will be showcasing some of her work, with a percentage of the proceeds from the sale of paintings donated to Citizen Sea. Grainne says “My current series of work is based on the seas’ ever changing surfaces with an emphasis on the damage done to our seas and the acknowledgement of a sense of ignorance towards it. As well as creating my art to be viewed and enjoyed, I want to raise awareness and connect with a local charity like Citizen Sea”.
Citizen Sea Operations and Admin, Karina Robinson commented; “After a few difficult years in the charity and events sectors, we’re delighted to be hosting this series of talks and workshops. We’ve a brilliant line up of local speakers and experts who are immersed in life in and on the sea. Our country has historically been shrouded by myths and legends, with the sea being at the centre of many of these tales. We hope that through these talks we can inspire people to reconnect with the sea and the coastal communities who strive to protect it. We’re incredibly excited to be included in the NI Science Festival 2022 programme, encouraging local people to get involved in science”.
Tickets are available here