CONSERVATION NEWS

CONSERVATION NEWS The latest national and international news from the conservation world, compiled by Tim Clabon

IRISH NEWS

New Website for Irish Native Rare Breeds Society

Apis mellifera mellifera

The Irish Native Rare Breeds Society (INRBS) launched their new website to promote indigenous domestic breeds of farm animals and their use in conservation grazing.

Conservation grazing is a tool that can be used to manage semi-natural and natural habitats in sensitive upland and coastal habitats using indigenous native breeds. The aims of conservation grazing in Ireland has three goals: • Increasing the use of traditional Irish breeds among farmers; • Encouraging the appropriate management of some of Ireland's most vulnerable habitats; • Promoting Sustainable farming practices.

Both nationally and internationally there are examples where conservation grazing has been used to manage habitats for the conservation of many threatened species.

The website is in its early stages but is in the process of matching Ireland’s traditional breeds with broad habitat types of conservation importance. As work on the website progresses it is hoped to develop a detailed understanding of how Ireland's traditional breeds can be used to support sustainable farming. Of most importance to conservation grazing is matching the right type of grazing animal to the habitat. This includes species, breed, body size, sex and age of the animals. Stocking density must also be considered where suitable stock densities are dependent upon site specific conditions.

The website matches breeds and species to habitats regardless of if there is a native breed suited to the habitat, so the website will also list non-native species of upland, woodland and coastal breeds suitable for these habitats.

As well as pages for officially recognised breeds the website hosts information on breeds not yet officially recognised such as the Cladoir sheep or Old Irish goats as there is a potential for them to be recognised on the basis of proven genetic distinctiveness.

Not forgotten on the INRBS website is the role of pollinators. In particular the native honeybee Apis mellifera mellifera which, while still a popular bee among beekeepers, is threatened by hybridisation with imported non-native sub-species.

As the website develops, information will become available to support farmers with an interest in conservation and keeping alive the past traditions that were once associated with Irish farming practices, passing this heritage on to the next generation of farmers.

The aim of the INRBS is to advocate for rare breeds in Ireland with a particular focus on indigenous breeds. They hope to reflect the positions and interests of affiliated breed societies. They also aim to assist those who seek to gain official recognition for currently unrecognised breeds where there is a reasonable basis for the belief that, on the basis of genetic analysis, there is sufficient genetic distinctiveness for the recognition of breeds adhering to a recognisable breed standard.

More information and information on Conservation Grazing can be found at https://inrbs.ie/

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

The devastating effects of coral bleaching as a result of the Global El Nino weather event and subsequent climate change.

One Ocean Summit

Over one hundred delegates from countries representing all oceanic areas and more than half the world’s exclusive economic zones recently met in Brest, France for the One Ocean Summit to state their determination to preserve the oceans by contributing to the “Brest Commitments for the Oceans”. ese powerful commitments were made alongside the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Director General of UNESCO and the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). e One Ocean Summit was held from 9 to 11 February 2022, bringing together 41 states and representatives of civil society and businesses, in a milestone of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which is committed to a proactive European ocean policy. Aware that the position of the oceans on the international political agenda is not currently corresponding with its role in climate, environmental and social balances or taking into account the threats to marine life, the leaders in Brest undertook to work together swi ly and tangibly to put a stop to the degradation of the oceans. Together they have chosen to take action to preserve biodiversity, stop overexploitation of marine resources, ght pollution and mitigate climate change.

To meet these commitments the creation of protected areas is an essential pillar for preserving biodiversity. It is now essential to continue to increase momentum by setting high ambitions for the coming decade. Since the launch of the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People at the One Planet Summit in January 2021 more than 30 additional countries have joined. Now, 84 countries aim to protect 30 % of the world’s land and sea by 2030.

Two thirds of the ocean lies beyond national jurisdiction and represents 45% of the surface of our planet, but cannot currently enjoy marine protected area status. e 27 Member States of the European Union, joined by 16 countries from outside the block, have therefore launched the “High Ambition Coalition on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction” (BBNJ) in order to foster the conclusion this year of an e ective, global agreement on the sustainable use of the high seas and the protection of their biodiversity.

Fisheries

Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) shing accounts for almost a h of global catches. is undermines e orts to manage sh stocks sustainably and o en involves very poor safety and working conditions for workers in the shing industry. At the One Ocean Summit, 14 participating countries committed to step up the ght against illegal shing on several fronts.

Six countries committed to ratify the IMO’s Cape Town Agreement, which will then at last come into force, by the October 2022 deadline, setting safety standards for shing boats.

Two more countries will ratify the Food and Agriculture Organization’s Agreement on Port State Measures, to better control shing activities at ports where catches are landed.

Several EU Member States committed to deploy their navies in overseas operations to step up surveillance of illegal shing, in accordance with the European Regulation of 2008 to prevent, deter and eliminate (IUU) shing.

Climate Change and Shipping

e strong growth of shipping, driven by global trade, means action in this area is essential to substantially reduce the damage it causes. 22 European ship owners have committed to the new Green Marine Europe label, which entails tangible measures in eight elds: underwater noise, pollutant air emissions, greenhouse gas emissions, aquatic invasive species, residues, oily discharge and ship recycling. 35 actors including 18 major European and global ports have committed to speeding up the supply of electricity to berthed ships to limit greenhouse gas emissions and reduce atmospheric pollution in o en densely populated port cities. In order to reduce atmospheric pollution, all Mediterranean countries, along with the EU, have committed to ask the IMO to create low sulphur emission zones across the Mediterranean starting on 1 January 2025. is summer, France, Spain, Italy and Monaco will also ask the IMO to establish a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area for the protection of cetaceans, in order to limit sailing speeds and reduce collisions. e oceans play a crucial role in climate change mitigation and adaptation. Some marine and coastal ecosystems (salt marshes, seagrass beds and mangroves) can absorb and store large quantities of carbon. is capacity now needs to be highlighted to speed up projects to protect and restore such ecosystems, to enable genuine “blue carbon o setting”. In Brest, France and Colombia launched a global coalition for blue carbon, which will bring together national and multilateral actors in the eld to contribute to nancing the restoration of coastal ecosystems, using shared and rigorous methodologies.

Deep sea mining

Deep sea mining has become of interest to many companies looking to mine minerals such as nickel and cobalt found beneath parts of the ocean oor. is is a controversial subject given the impact such activities will have on deep sea biodiversity. Unfortunately a moratorium is not progressing quickly enough, which could risk many deep sea habitats. Given the hostile nature of the environment it is di cult to fully understand how the ecosystem there works or how it will be impacted.

Overall many commitments were made, but what is needed (as with all environmental commitments) is action. Our deep seas are a shared resource, out of reach to many, yet important to all.

IRELAND

– an ocean lover’s paradise

NOT YET SICK OF STAYCATIONS? HERE ARE 4 IRISH SEASIDE ACTIVITIES TO DO THIS SUMMER. BY REGINA CLASSEN

Ididn’t get the chance of snorkelling in ‘warm’ countries until a couple of years ago, when I visited South Africa. By that stage I had already taken a couple of scuba dive lessons in Ireland and had spent the odd weekend snorkelling around the Irish coast, so taking a look at marine life in the Indian Ocean was a must. However, I distinctly remember being somewhat underwhelmed when looking down at some fish swimming around a rocky reef on Africa’s east coast. It was nothing like what I was used to from Ireland – and I’m not just talking about the difference in temperature! When I stick my head underwater over a kelp forest or seagrass bed on Ireland’s west coast, it’s like entering another world. To be so completely immersed in nature is a rare experience nowadays. Snorkelling in South Africa was still incredible, don’t get me wrong (and a half day’s snorkel is nowhere near enough to explore SA marine life), but it got me thinking about how little we appreciate what’s right on our doorstep. There is an avid scuba diving community in Ireland who knows this all too well, but for most people Ireland is not really the destination you have in mind when you think of underwater paradise. And it’s not just underwater – one of my best outdoor adventure experiences so far has been a sea kayaking tour in Donegal. On a fine day, this little country is truly marvellous.

Here are my top four seaside activities to do this summer.

Snorkelling

Imagine being in forest, but instead of walking on the ground you’re flying over the top ofw the tree canopy. That’s what it’s like to snorkel over a forest of kelp, or a meadow of seagrass. Add a bit of weight, and you can free dive down into the forest to get the full threedimensional experience. It’s like scuba-diving, but with a lot less hassle. With the right thickness of wetsuit (5mm thickness allows snorkelling throughout the year), neoprene hat, gloves, shoes, a decent snorkel, goggles and fins, you can have incredible fun. It’s a true eye-opener to see kelp floating upright instead of lying flat on the ground on a beach. It’s a beautiful habitat and home to countless organisms that few people know exist. You want to find an interesting and sheltered spot, of which there are countless in the many bays and estuaries on the west coast. Make sure you bring a buddy or two for safety and avoid any areas with fast currents. Ideally you also want to plan your snorkel trip close to the low tide mark – the lower the water level, the closer you’ll be to the interesting stuff on the bottom of the sea.

In Derrynane, Co. Kerry, Vincent Hyland developed Ireland’s first underwater nature trail for scuba divers (see www.vincenthylandartist.com/ underwater-nature-trail). This looped trail can be snorkelled at low tide and promises sightings of many typical Irish rocky reef inhabitants. It’s accessible from the shore and located on a blue flag beach with toilets and parking facilities.

Sea kayaking

An incredibly worthwhile past time which is increasing in popularity in Ireland is sea kayaking. There are many cliffs and sea caves along the Irish coast that can be explored in this way. Kayaking tour operators usually provide kayaks, wetsuits and shoes, so all you need to bring is some lunch. I went on a brilliant tour in Donegal kayaking around Owey Island. We got to enter some of the sea caves and kayak along the cliff and through some of the impressive arches – definitely places you wouldn’t otherwise get to. However, this also means that kayakers are able to reach areas where animals were previously undisturbed. So, if you see any animals, such as seals or seabirds resting or nesting, do not approach them. Please observe from a distance and respect their home.

Whale watching

To-date, 25 species of whales and dolphins have been recorded in Irish waters, according to the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group. The west coast of Ireland is part of a superhighway for these species, which move north to south and back again hunting migratory fish and krill. The Shannon Estuary is home to the Shannon dolphins, a pod of at least 145 individual bottlenose dolphins resident in the estuary. Several whale watching operators are located in the

"WHEN I STICK MY HEAD UNDERWATER OVER A KELP FOREST OR SEAGRASS BED ON IRELAND’S WEST COAST, IT’S LIKE ENTERING ANOTHER WORLD. TO BE SO COMPLETELY IMMERSED IN NATURE IS A RARE EXPERIENCE NOWADAYS".

Snakelocks anemone

west of Ireland that can take groups on boat tours several hours in length. However, not all whale watching requires you to go on a boat. Sometimes, if the sea is calm and you are lucky, you can even spot a whale from shore. Spotting whales and dolphins requires patience and luck, but regardless of whether you see any of the friendly giants out there, you’re guaranteed a great day out at sea.

Explore tide pools

If you’re not too keen on going into or onto the water but are nevertheless interested, or perhaps you have some little ones to look after, you can explore some incredible habitats in a tide pool. The animals and plants in tide pools have to adapt to very harsh conditions. Tide pools get filled with seawater twice a day at high tide, but they can get very warm and salty in the interim. The National Biodiversity Data Centre runs a citizen science programme called Explore Your Shore! which includes instructions to a Rocky Shore Safari. Visit www. exploreyourshore.ie to find out more.

If you plan to enjoy any of these activities this summer, please abide by all environmental codes of conduct. Do not remove anything from the sea, disturb animals or damage habitats - just observe and enjoy!

Marine Protected Areas and Commercial Fishing

by Pádraic Fogarty

The Irish government has committed to designating 30% of Irish territorial seas as Marine Protected Areas (MPA) by 2030. It should not be surprising that productive and biodiverse parts of the sea which need protection are also areas which are of great interest for commercial fishing. Under the Common Fisheries Policy, EU member states can create MPAs in their waters but where another country has fishing interests inside that area, there must be agreement on any conservation measures, including any restrictions on fishing activities such as bottom trawling and longlining. In many instances there is more than one country with an interest so this makes agreement very difficult to reach. In fact, member states have shown that they are more interested in defending their national fishing industry than protecting ocean biodiversity, so the reality is that while many EU countries have extensive networks of MPAs there are practically no restrictions on industrial fishing activities in these areas, meaning they are merely ‘paper parks’, providing very little actual protection for marine life. This was underlined recently when the UK announced that it would ban bottom trawling in the Dogger Bank MPA starting this summer. The Dogger Bank lies in the North Sea and efforts to exclude bottom trawling date back to 2015. However, it is only now that the UK has left the EU that they have the authority to unilaterally exclude boats from other nations. This shows the EU in a poor light as the block wants to be seen as a leader on ocean protection but so far has been unable to meet its own commitments to end overfishing, the dumping of unwanted catches or the creation of MPAs that are worthy of the name. Unless we see the protection of the ocean prioritised over the commercial interests of industrial fishing it is difficult so see how we will have meaningful MPAs any time soon.