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Marine Protected Areas
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In autumn 2019, the department initiated a process aimed at expanding Ireland’s network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the coming years. In general terms, MPAs can be considered to be geographically defined maritime areas that provide levels of protection to achieve conservation objectives.
MPAs can support economic activity associated with the sea; for example, by conserving areas of particular importance to marine ecosystems and ensuring that human activity is kept at a level that will sustain biological diversity, natural productivity, human health and well-being. MPAs can also help reduce the effects of climate change and ocean acidification by ensuring that marine ecosystems are healthy and resilient, and that the marine environment can act as a natural carbon storage system.
The first step in the current process was to convene an advisory group to provide independent expert advice and recommendations on the processes required and the challenges to be addressed in expanding Ireland’s MPA network. This group, chaired by Professor Tasman Crowe, Director of UCD’s Earth Institute, had its first meeting on 18 December 2019. It subsequently met on a monthly basis, including remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The group worked intensively during this period in order to formulate and complete its final report. On 22 October 2020 (during EU Green Week 2020), the group submitted its report to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, and the Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD.
As an important part of its active research and deliberations, the advisory group gathered and facilitated the sharing of knowledge and perspectives on MPAs from more than 100 key societal, community, business and sectoral stakeholders. The process involved two consultative approaches: an online questionnaire and online focus groups.
Firstly, the group circulated an online questionnaire in August 2020. This provided respondents with an opportunity to share their views on MPAs, the future expansion of Ireland’s MPA network, and the preferred approach to selecting, designating and managing MPAs in the short and longer term.
Secondly, a series of online focus group meetings took place in September 2020. These occurred in parallel with the online questionnaire process. Over 40 stakeholders, from various representative bodies, sectors, authorities and interest groups, participated in these focus group meetings.
The information gathered by the advisory group through both consultative approaches informed its considerations, analysis and final report.
The final report of the MPA Advisory Group was published in Irish and English language versions on 26 January 2021 and is available via this link: Expanding Ireland’s Marine Protected Area Network .
In tandem with the Ministers’ and Department’s detailed consideration of the expert group’s findings, a public consultation phase centred around the report and the wider MPA process began in mid-February 2021 and extended over more than five months to the end of July 2021.
This consultation and associated communications encouraged all stakeholders and the wider public to get involved by sharing their views on the process by which Ireland’s network of MPAs will be expanded into the future. In response to the open call to participate, in total more than 2,300 individual submissions were received by the Department from members of the public and other stakeholders.
The feedback received through the public consultation was then the subject of an Independent Analysis and Report on Marine Protected Area (MPA) Public Consultation Submissions received. The findings and conclusions from this study are available in the form of a detailed report which presents key data and other information gathered through the consultation process in an accessible manner. This report was published on 31 March 2022.
Informed by all of these important steps and the resulting information, the Department is now in the process of developing stand-alone legislation to enable the identification, designation and management of MPAs in accordance with Ireland’s national and international commitments. This work is expected to continue for a good part of 2022.
Check this webpage regularly to find out the latest news on the ongoing MPA process.
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