MARINE GROUPS STAGE RALLY OUTSIDE DÁIL OVER DELAYS TO NEW LAW

Marine groups stage rally outside Dáil over delays to new law. Fair Seas reminds politicians of pledges on MPA bill as government enters final months
Fair Seas lead a rally outside Leinster House on Wednesday to highlight a lack of progress on the vital Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Bill. The coalition of Ireland’s leading environmental non-governmental organisations (eNGOs) and environmental networks was determined to make its voice heard as the clock ticks down to the end of this Dáil, and was assisted by a collection of volunteers dressed as hard-to-miss colourful sea creatures.
The MPA legislation is aimed at legally protecting areas of seas and coastline from activities that damage the habitats, wildlife and natural processes that occur there. Despite repeated pledges from the government, progress on the bill’s publication has been stalled since early last year.
Fair Seas Coordinator Dr Donal Griffin says there is a high level of concern among campaigners as the Dáil enters its final months:
“We came to the gates of Leinster House to remind politicians that MPA legislation is a win-win concept. It offers ecological, economical and societal benefits and can even positively impact climate concerns. We’ve heard positive comments from politicians recently but now we need to see those backed up by action in the next six months. Marine life around Ireland needs proper protection and it can’t afford to wait any longer”.
Wednesday’s rally also featured speeches and representatives from Coastwatch, Flossie and the Beach Cleaners, Author Easkey Britton and a host of people in colourful sea creature costumes, who were all determined to make their concerns heard.
Jack O’Donovan Trá is the Communications Officer at Fair Seas:
“We in Fair Seas have been doing our best to highlight concerns about declines in marine life around Ireland and the lack of engagement with coastal communities, but strong laws are crucial to having a lasting and effective impact. The MPA Bill is vital to help Ireland meet its international obligations to conserve at least 30% of the planet’s ocean by 2030 in a meaningful way, but most importantly it has the opportunity to place Ireland’s coastal communities at its core, allowing for the recovery of wildlife and fish stocks and the revitalisation of our coastal towns and villages. We may have brought wetsuits, surfboards and colourful costumes to the gates of Dáil Éireann to help get our point across but the reality of the situation is very serious”.
Fair Seas has outlined 10 key asks, as its members see them, for the proposed MPA legislation and they can be accessed here.