02 Jun 2026
Photo by Rau Ling Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has launched a 12-week consultation on proposed fisheries management measures for three offshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Irish Sea, with restrictions on bottom trawling for nephrops among the measures under consideration. The three sites, the Pisces Reef Complex Special Area […]
08 Jan 2026
Image description: An algae bloom floating on the water’s surface, with a bird and its chick swimming through. Image by Liz Harrell on Unsplash The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has launched the first stage of an online data viewer providing near real-time monitoring of Lough Neagh’s water quality as part […]
05 Aug 2025
Photo by K. Mitch Hodge Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has launched a £3.25 million Marine Environment and Fisheries Fund, providing immediate financial support for fishing, aquaculture and marine stakeholders across the region. Minister Andrew Muir announced the scheme opening on 29th July 2025, emphasising the urgency of applications […]
07 Jul 2024
Tributes have been paid to Joe Breen, OBE, who died recently after a short illness. Joe is remembered for his invaluable work in marine conservation and has been described as ‘an extremely committed champion for nature’ who had ‘a deep love and passion for the sea’. In the 2023 New Years Honours list, he received […]
25 May 2021
Blue carbon habitats have the potential to make significant contributions to Northern Ireland’s climate change targets, but the extent of this contribution is still unknown. Ulster Wildlife commissioned the Blue Carbon Habitat Restoration Feasibility Study to investigate where the current extent of coastal blue carbon habitats including seagrass meadows, kelp forests, saltmarsh, and shellfish beds are located, […]