Proposals for ten potential conservation zones in the Irish Sea are earmarked in a second report released from the Irish Sea Conservation Zones project.

The area include the inshore waters of Merseyside, Lancashire and Cumbria and offshore waters of the Isle of Man, Wales, Northern Ireland and England. One of the zones is a 187 square km stretch of deep water between Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man.

In order to gain a greater understanding of the proposed zones, the report commissioned a Regional Stakeholder Group which drew from a diverse range of interests in the Irish Sea. Among the stakeholders included were the Royal Yachting Association, the fishing community and ports authorities. The review identified the size, shape and locations of the proposed 10 ten new Marine Conservation Zones. For the first time, the zones included inshore water of the Irish Sea project area as well as offshore.

"This is a real milestone for the project, with potential Marine Conservation Zones identified in both inshore and offshore waters", said Greg Whitfield, project manager at Irish Sea Conservation Zones.

"It is now really important that people take a look at the potential zones and give us their feedback on them. The better the information we have, the better the Marine Conservation Zones that are recommended by the regional stakeholder group will be."

Each of the marine conservation zones are designed to protect nationally important marine wildlife, habitats and geology. In addition they are designed to have the least impact possible on people's activities, but some restrictions will apply as the zones must meet guidelines for protecting species and habitats.

Members of the public are being invited to participate and will be considered as the second project continues to refine its proposals. The report is only a snapshot of the work so far. It does not contain concrete recommendations for the locations of Marine Conservation Zones (MCZ) in the Irish Sea, and the potential zones shown in the report are described as tentative and liable to change.

The Irish Sea Conservation Zone project will be releasing a third report before the Regional Stakeholder Group finalises its recommendations. The reports are delivered to the Science Advisory Panel. The independent body is comprised of expert scientists whose main role is to evaluate the potential of MCZs against ecological criteria.

The third progress report will be made available in February 2011. Its final recommendations will then be presented to the UK government in June. Following that a formal public consultation on the proposed MCZs are to take place in late 2011 and early 2012.

For information on the Second Progress Report including feedback forms can be downloaded from HERE or by calling 00 44 (0)1925 813 200

DFDS Seaways, which only entered into the Irish Sea ferry sector, after acquiring Norfolkline operations during the summer has sold two freight routes and vessels to Stena Line, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The sale covers the routes between Belfast and Birkenhead (Liverpool) and Belfast-Heysham. Operating on the northern Irish Sea routes are two 13,000 gross tonnes Japanese built freight ro-ro ferries sisters Hibernia Seaways and Scotia Seaways in addition to two chartered ro-pax vessels as part of the transaction.

Niels Smedegaard, CEO of DFDS, said: "The Irish routes we took over in conjunction with the purchase of Norfolkline have, in spite of the recent impressive efforts by everyone employed on the routes, in the last two years lost more than thirty million euros. Given the depressed economies a turnaround of the activities, without structural solutions, is not realistic. On this basis, we have decided to scale back our activities and sell the two routes to and from Belfast."

In the deal Stena Line, the Swedish owner will also take control of port terminals in Belfast, Birkenhead and Heysham. The majority of shore-based staff at these port terminals will be transferred to Stena, maintaining their current conditions.

DFDS and Stena Line will share staff at these locations during an agreed transitional period at the end of which DFDS will establish their own agency operations at Birkenhead and Heysham.

The new arrangement will see DFDS focusing on its other services between Dublin to Birkenhead (which includes passengers) and from Dublin to Heysham. Italian built sisters ro-pax sisters Liverpool Seaways and Dublin Seaways currently operate on the Dublin-Birkenhead route and the 120-trailer freight-ferry, Anglia Seaways maintains serving the Heysham route. Operations at the Dublin Port terminal are not affected by this transaction.

DFDS will continue to review their strategic and operations routes in Dublin, which is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2011. The Danish owned shipping and logistics transportation company operate an extensive route network throughout the Irish Sea, North Sea and Scandinavia.

Scottish fishermen have taken exception to a new ban on fishing for scallops in the Irish Sea around the Isle of Man. 

Authorities on the island introduced the bylaw in reaction to what they perceive as dangerous levels of overfishing and are "keen to conserve and protect its scallop beds", according to The Guardian.

It has been claimed that so many undersized juveniles are fished by trawlers in the two-week season each November "that the population is being put at risk".

However, Scottish fisheries minister Richard Lochhead was quoted as describing the new measure as "unnecessary and unwarranted" and a "war" against Scots.

"There's been no scientific case to back up the bylaw that's been put in place, which blatantly just excludes Scottish vessels," he said.

ISORA has published its race schedule for 2011 and to win the overall series next year boats must complete 4 of the 6 "qualifying". Points for the overall series will then be taken from the Best 5 results from ALL the races completed.

The offshore body has also changed the scoring of each race to the High Score system and it will apply weightings for those qualifying races depending on the complexity of the race. The aim is to better reward the winner and participants of longer races with bigger fleets.

To provide opportunities for those boats who have not been winning to win prizes and trophies, it was also agreed at last weeks agm to create a "Silver" fleet in both Class 1 and Class 2. The selection of boats to enter the "Silver" fleet for 2011 will be based on their performance in 2010. The success of these new classes will depend on maintaining the number of boats entering and racing at least at last years numbers.

The NOR and Entry forms for ISORA 2011 will be published later this month.

The Race Programme is attached for download below.

 

Met Eireann have issued a severe weather warning. 

Southerly gales or strong gales developing this evening and for a time tonight on all coasts and on the Irish Sea. Winds veering westerly tonight and continuing to reach gale force on coasts from Roches Point to Erris Head to Malin Head overnight.

Stormy conditions will affect Ireland Thursday afternoon, evening and for much of Thursday night. Gale force westerly winds will gust between 100 and 120 km/hr generally, but gusts of up to 140 km/hr are expected in exposed parts of Connacht and Ulster. These winds are likely to lead to some structural damage and will be accompanied by high seas on Atlantic coasts. Winds will moderate considerably towards dawn on Friday.

More HERE

 

New research by marine biologists shows that jellyfish numbers are rising in European waters - including the Irish Sea.

The BBC reports that findings set to be published in the journal Global Change Biology show that samples collected from the Irish Sea since 1970 record a significant increase of both jellyfish and coral, particularly since 1994.

Researchers suggest that changes to marine ecosystems - possibly caused by overfishing and climate change - maybe be providing an opportunity for jellyfish to propogate, due to their ability to adapt quickly to new conditions.

There is concern that this might lead to a "never-ending jellyfish joyride" which could play havoc with commercial fishing stocks.

However the scientists say more data is needed to understand exactly what is happening to cause this growth.

Irish Sea Offshore sailing Chief Peter Ryan has circulated the Notice and Agenda for next Saturday's ISORA AGM at the National Yacht Club and told Ireland's biggest band of offshore crews to wear dinner jackets so they can vote on next year's sailing, watch Ireland play South Africa and attend the formal ISORA prize giving dinner all at the same waterfront venue.

The AGM takes place at 14.00 at the NYC. The rugby match is on at 17.30 and Ryan says if sailors are interested they can dress up in your tux and watch the match.

Immediately after the match at 19.45, the pre-dinner drinks reception will be held in the JB Room of the Dun Laoghaire club with complimentary sparkling wine and classical music by the Neptune Trio.

Dinner will be at 20.30 sharp to enable the prize giving to take place at 22.00 and finish of ceremonies by 23.00 latest. After this sailors can relax or dance the night away at the ISORA disco.

AGM papers are attached for download.

Ferry passenger numbers through ports in the Republic of Ireland rose by 16% in the first 6 months of 2010, according to the latest analysis published by the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO). The 16% rise posted in passenger ferry traffic is compared to the same period in 2009 with 1,436,207 passengers. The number of cars carried in this period also increased by 13% compared to a 4% drop for H1 2009.

The figures reflect the disruption to the aviation industry due to the ash-cloud that erupted from the Icelandic Eyjafjallajokull volcanic mountain in April. This contributed to a large volume in passengers making alternative travel plans by booking with ferry operators.

During the week of the main closure to European air-space, ferry operators noted a three-fold increase in the demand for foot-passenger bookings throughout the main Irish Sea routes. The IMDO estimate that an additional 106,000 passengers took the ferry option compared to the same time period in 2009.

On the continental routes between Ireland to France, volumes increased 25% in the second quarter of 2010. There are three routes operated by four ferry operators. Over 30% of the passenger market is conducted within the second quarter of 2010, marking the beginning of the tourist season. Therefore any increase in passengers volumes from this time is likely to have a positive impact for the balance of the full year figures.

In the months between March to May, the increase in sea-passengers was up 14% year-on-year. While the market demand on English Channel routes, which accounts for 90% of the traffic, saw passenger numbers surge 13% in the second quarter of 2010 compared to the same timeframe of the previous year.

The largest percentage increase in traffic, was recorded at Dublin Port, during the first 6 months of 2010, where passenger volumes rose by 25%. Earlier in the year, a new entrant into the Irish Sea market, Fastnet Line re-opened the Cork-Swansea route. In 2006 the 10-hour route was closed by Swansea Cork Ferries. The new operator provides 6 sailings weekly which are likely to have resulted in a boost to passenger tourist vehicles in the south-west region.

On an all-Ireland basis there are 5 operators operating between Ireland and the UK, and 2 operators between Ireland and France providing 60 daily sailings. Irish Sea operators are Stena Line, Irish Ferries, P&O (Irish Sea), Seatruck Ferries and DFDS Seaways (formerly trading as Norfolkline) until acquired by the Danish ferry and transport logistics company. On the continental services, Irish Ferries and Celtic Link Ferries operate out of Rosslare Europort while Brittany Ferries serves the Cork-Roscoff route.

For a detailed PDF of the figures please click attachment listed below. For further information about the IMDO logon to their website: www.imdo.ie

 

 

The pilot of a light aircraft that ditched into the Irish Sea last year has been commended for his flying skills and quick thinking after taking the plane down safely.

John O'Shaughnessy was flying the two-seater plane from Wales to Wexford on 11 August last year when the accident occurred off Tuskar Rock, just 15 minutes away from his destination.

He executed a 'belly landing' and was spotted by a nearby ocean rowing team who came to his aid before the Coast Guard arrived.

On Wednesday (13 October) the official investigation into the incident found that engine failure was to blame and not pilot error. However, accident investigators also found that the standard pre-flight checks were not fully carried out.

The report praised O'Shaugnessy's actions in ditching the plane "despite the fact that he was not particularly familiar with the aircraft".

Investigators said that the engine failure was "probably due to fuel starvation relating to a fuel-vapour related problem". They also noted the lack of a flight plan for O'Shaughnessy's journey.

The Irish Sea and possibly the Irish East Coast may see more super yacht traffic thanks to an Isle of Man Government initiative aimed at registering more Super yachts on the island after the Monaco Yacht Show later this month. Four government representatives are travelling to the famous tax haven in the hope of attracting more business.

The island's super-yacht industry has grown by 20% in the past year and there are currently 95 commercial yachts registered with the Manx flag.

The Isle of Man government is confident business will increase as a result of having a presence in Monaco.

Director of the Isle of Man Ship Registry Dick Welsh told the BBC: "It is difficult to quantify how much the industry is worth to the Isle of Man.

"The registration charge is £700 but then there is the technical management, crew management, chartering and insurance.

"It's a thriving industry which employs around 100 people on the Island."

More from the BBC HERE.