FAIR SEAS TO ENCOURAGE TDS AND SENATORS TO PASS STRONG LAWS TO PROTECT SEAS

Fair Seas to encourage TDS and senators to pass strong laws to protect seas. Environmental network to host Oireachtas event today.

A  coalition of Ireland’s leading environmental non-governmental organisations and networks is calling on the Government to listen to the recommendations made by the Joint Oireachtas Committee about the Marine Protected Areas Bill 2023. Once the text of the bill is finalised it will make its way through the Dáil and the Seanad.

Fair Seas is holding a briefing for TDs and Senators in the Oireachtas Audio-Visual room this afternoon (Wednesday) from 2.00pm to 3.00pm. The group’s experts will deliver a presentation on Ireland’s Marine Protected Areas (MPA) journey to date. MPAs are parts of our seas and coasts legally protected from activities that damage the habitats, wildlife and natural processes that occur there.

Ireland has committed to protecting 30% of its seas by 2030 and the legislation aims to provide a statutory basis for the identification, designation, and management of MPAs in Ireland’s maritime area.

Representatives from Fair Seas appeared before the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage during February as part of the pre-legislative scrutiny of the Marine Protected Areas Bill 2023. The committee has taken the network’s concerns on board and has now published its report containing 45 recommendations to improve the bill.

Dr Donal Griffin, Marine Policy Officer with Fair Seas said:

“The MPA Bill is a once in a generation opportunity to protect and restore the waters that surround our country and it’s vital we get it right. We agree with the recommendations in the Joint Committee’s report however, it’s imperative that they are incorporated into the text of the bill before it is laid before the Oireachtas. Among the recommendations is a stronger commitment to protecting 30% of Irish waters by 2030 with 10% of our seas to be highly protected. The report also proposes a  hierarchy of levels of protection and management for MPAs, a coherent network of MPAs that adequately cover the diversity of ecosystems in Irish waters and that the expert body appointed to advise the Minister be independent. If implemented, these measures will lead to a more efficient bill delivering better quality MPAs for Ireland in the near future.”

Aoife O’Mahony, Fair Seas Campaign Manager added:

“Our briefing event at Leinster House is another opportunity for us to highlight the importance of the upcoming Marine Protected Areas legislation. We have before us a unique and exciting opportunity to not only progress towards our 30 x 30 targets, but for Ireland to become a world leader in how we protect, restore and value our seas. TDs and Senators have an important role to play in ensuring that the legislation that is passed is as strong and as effective as possible.”

Green Party TD, Deputy Steven Matthew, Chair of the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, will address the Fair Seas event this afternoon and will reflect on the progress made on Marine Protected Areas so far in Ireland. There will be a presentation by Fair Seas and a Q&A session.

Attendees will also be shown a short video highlighting the Greater Skellig Coast, Ireland’s first Hope Spot. Earlier this year, Fair Seas successfully campaigned for a large part of the southwest coast of Ireland to be designated as a Hope Spot by Mission Blue, joining a list of places like the Great Barrier Reef and the Galápagos Islands.