Marine Protected Areas are set to be expanded
IT goes without saying that the best examples of our very diverse marine heritage should be conserved and protected for future generations to experience and enjoy. Such protected marine sites are widely known as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
To address the ongoing loss of biodiversity, the recently published European Union Biodiversity Strategy requires Member States to designate more Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to try to protect endangered marine life, conserve habitats and/or species, and other natural features.
With 2.5% of Ireland’s marine area designated as MPAs, we are starting from a relatively low base. However, the current Programme for Government includes a commitment to expand Ireland’s network of MPAs to 10% of its maritime area “as soon as is practical”. Furthermore, the Programme includes the very ambitious commitment to expand the MPA network to 30% by 2030.
To meet these overarching objectives, in December 2019, the then Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government established the Marine Protected Area Advisory Group, a group of independent experts chaired by Professor Tasman Crowe from the Earth Institute at University College Dublin. The group was tasked with producing a report offering advice and recommendations to government to support the expansion of Ireland’s network of MPAs.
Less than one year later, in October 2020, the expert advisory group produced a very comprehensive 336-page report setting out its conclusions, advice, and recommendations on how government should proceed. The government released the report on 21 January 2021 and made it available online at https://www. gov.ie/en/publication/135a8-expanding-irelands-marine-protected
A key part of the expert group’s responsibility and work was wide and effective consultation and information gathering with a diverse range of marine stakeholders and those who use our coastal and offshore waters on a regular basis. Stakeholder consultation was independently managed by London-based ICF Consulting Services Limited, a global consulting and technology services provider, and their detailed report is attached to the main report as an annex. The entire MPA report is now available online and is open for public consultation.