Irish Wildlife Trust Spring 2022

Page 9

IWT NEWS

MARINE CONSERVATION  The Atlantic Ocean at Inishbofin, Co. Galway.

By Regina Classen, IWT Marine Policy and Research Officer

INTRODUCING FAIR SEAS: A NEW NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CAMPAIGN WITH THE MISSION TO BUILD A MOVEMENT OF OCEAN STEWARDSHIP TO PROTECT, CONSERVE AND RESTORE IRELAND’S UNIQUE MARINE ENVIRONMENT

O

ver the course of 2022, leading environmental groups, including the Irish Wildlife Trust, will join forces to launch a new campaign set to rapidly expand Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Irish waters. Together we have built a national coalition campaign called Fair Seas seeking to protect, conserve and restore Ireland’s unique marine environment. Our ambition is to see Ireland become a world leader in marine protection by designating 10% of its waters as fully or highly protected areas by 2025 and at least 30% by 2030, giving our native species and habitats the opportunity to thrive. The Irish government has also set a target to designate 30% of its waters as MPAs by 2030. However there has been no commitment on the level of protection to be provided by these MPAs, other than the support of the principles of the EU Biodiversity Strategy which includes a call for 10% ‘strict’ protection by 2030 and 30% protection overall.

Irish Wildlife Spring '22

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