A Court of Appeal judgment has ruled that the Government policy directive introducing a ban on trawling inside the six nautical-mile limit is invalid, and of no legal effect. The judgment by Mr Justice Murray relates to an appeal taken by Dingle-based fisherman Tom Kennedy and Castletownbere-based fisherman Neil Minihane over a policy directive introduced […]
The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, has issued Maritime Area Consents (MACs) to the first phase of seven offshore renewable energy projects, in what represents a significant milestone in the delivery of offshore wind in Ireland. The news release from government said: ‘The award of MACs ensures that only projects with the greatest […]
The Irish Government has announced newly protected marine sites and government approval of the General Scheme of the Marine Protected Areas Bill. Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan, said: “We started from a low base of 2.3% marine protection in 2020, but since I became Minister we have more than tripled […]
There is strong support for more legal protection for Irish waters according to a coalition of Ireland’s leading environmental non-governmental organisations and networks. Fair Seas has revealed details of its survey conducted to learn about the connection Irish people have with the sea. The research shows that 31% of people believe that Irish seas are […]
The water quality in nearly half of Ireland’s rivers, lakes, and waterways is in “unsatisfactory” condition, with farming run-off in the south the culprit for much of the “alarming” deterioration. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has warned the further decline in water quality means Ireland is currently off course to meet the EU and national […]
Following advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), the EU Commission closed 87 sensitive marine areas in EU waters to bottom fishing. The closed areas amount to 16,000 km2of EU waters, of which nearly 9,000 km2 are within the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Thanks to the Deep-Sea Access Regulation, waters below […]
The Marine Institute and the Socio-Economic Marine Research Unit (SEMRU) at NUI Galway, are conducting a survey of marine and marine-related businesses as part of the regular reporting on Ireland’s Ocean Economy. Although the CSO and other State organisations provide some data on marine related economic activity, there is a need to supplement this data […]
Legislation covering marine protected areas (MPAs) is “almost complete” and will set an ambition for 30% of Irish waters to be designated, Heritage Minister Malcolm Noonan has said. Mr Noonan was speaking after a report from a broad coalition of Irish environmental groups found that a mere 2.1% were MPAs, compared to 10% on average in the […]