#LoveYourSea
Have Your Say on the Marine Protected Areas of Ireland
Government Takes Next Step Towards Marine Protected Areas forming 30% of Ireland’s Maritime Area
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, and the Minister for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan, has launched a public consultation on the process of expanding Ireland’s network of marine protected areas (MPAs).
MPAs are geographically defined maritime areas with certain protections for conservation purposes. The Government aims to expand Ireland’s MPA network from 2.13% to 30% of Ireland’s maritime area by 2030.
Creating an MPA regime will constitute a major change in marine environmental protection in Ireland. At present, there is no definition of an MPA in Irish law. Environmental protections under the Wildlife Acts only apply to the foreshore. Protection in marine areas beyond 12 nautical miles is limited, both in terms of space and species.
The Public Consultation on the MPA Advisory Group report entitled “Expanding Ireland’s Marine Protected Area Network”, has commenced. This open consultation will run until 5pm on Friday 30 July 2021 and it invites all stakeholders and members of the public to submit their views and comments.
The public consultation material, including a PDF copy of the report and an Online Survey to submit views and opinions on the report and its findings, is available in both Irish and English. This material can be accessed HERE.
Further information may be also obtained via the Marine Protected Areas pages HERE.
We encourage you to promote the consultation so we can give a fair representation of looking after our seas and the development of infrastructure needs.
A couple of handles you make like to use if sharing on social are @DeptHousingIRL and #LoveYourSea and #activeonthewater
This is the link to share - https://www.gov.ie/en/consultation/45271-public-consultation-on-expert-advisory-group-report-entitled-expanding-irelands-marine-protected-area-network/
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