16 Jan 2024
From Ireland’s Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD has announced another significant addition to Ireland’s Natura 2000 network. The new Seas off Wexford Special Protection Area (SPA), which is to be designated under the EU Birds Directive, will cover more than 305,000 […]
19 Dec 2023
Ireland’s ocean economy grew its turnover by 17 per cent last year, while the number of jobs in the sector rose by 19 per cent, according to a report by the Marine Institute. The 2023 Ocean Economy Report provides an update on Ireland’s ocean economy for 2022 across three main economic indicators: turnover, gross value […]
22 Aug 2023
A new series of high-resolution maps of Irelands coast is being released and made available to the public for free. INFOMAR (Integrated Mapping for the Sustainable Development of Ireland’s Marine Resource) has launched the Blue Scale Map Series; a collection of 18 high-resolution bathymetric maps of Ireland’s coastal waters. Developed by a dedicated team of hydrographers, data […]
13 Jun 2023
A survey has shown that three-quarters of people believe the Government should prioritise fully protecting valuable marine ecosystems. The RED C survey was carried out by Fair Seas, ahead of a gathering at Cork City Hall on World Ocean Day to discuss the next steps for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Ireland. The […]
10 Apr 2023
A rare shark washed up on the shores of Co Wexford in what scientists believe to be the first official record of the species in Irish waters. The smalltooth sand tiger (Odontaspis ferox) is rarely seen by humans because it normally lives offshore in waters more than 100 metres deep. At 14 feet long (4.25m), […]
28 Mar 2023
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 […]
03 Jan 2023
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 […]
20 Dec 2022
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 […]
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