Coastline protection legislation needs prompt attention

Communications Officer at Fair Seas, Jack O’Donovan Trá has urged the public to use their voice to ensure the government “commits to having healthy seas for future generations”.

Legislation to protect Irish seas and coastlines must be in place before the Dáil’s summer recess, according to environmental campaigners.

Fair Seas, an umbrella organisation for a range of environmental groups, is calling on the government to introduce robust legislation on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) before the Dáil pauses for the summer.

MPAs are areas of seas and coastlines that are legally protected from activities that may damage or disrupt natural habitats, wildlife, and processes that happen there.

The MPA Bill was originally listed as a priority legislation by the government some 20 months ago. However, the bill is yet to be published.

Fair Seas

Fair Seas said the legislation is “vital” to help Ireland meet its obligations to contribute to the protection or conservation of at least 30% of the planet’s land and oceans by 2030.

Fair Seas campaign coordinator Dr Donal Griffin says although the delay with the MPA Bill is “disappointing”, there is “still time to act” before the summer.

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to properly conserve and restore Irish waters by addressing biodiversity loss and decline. It’s crucial for meeting our international obligations but it’s also a vital part of protecting our local marine biodiversity, coastal communities, and culture,” Dr Griffin said.

Fair Seas is urging the Government to put the remaining Dáil proceedings to “good use” by getting the bill through the Oireachtas before the summer break.

We have less than a month’s worth of Dáil proceedings left at this stage, and we’ll be facing a general election in the spring at the latest, so the next term’s schedule is going to be packed.

“We’ve been waiting for progress on this for over a year now so we’re urging the government not to miss another deadline and to put the remaining Dáil days to good use by getting it through the Oireachtas before the summer break,” Dr Griffin added.

Fair Seas is asking its supporters to write to Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien and Minister of State for Heritage Malcolm Noonan, insisting that the issue is prioritised.

Communications Officer at Fair Seas, Jack O’Donovan Trá urges the public to use their voice to ensure the government “commits to having healthy seas for future generations”.

“A lack of effective management has led to widespread habitat loss and a sharp decline in marine biodiversity, and some of our iconic species like the Atlantic puffin and angel shark are at serious risk of extinction," he said.

“We know this matters to people - our own petition gathered over 53,000 signatures calling on the government to take urgent action - and we need to know it matters to the government too.”