![]() Ireland should consider itself a "large ocean state" considering the vast seas surrounding its land mass, he said.Ĭommunities around the world worried about the short-term economic losses from curtailing some activities such as fishing should be the beneficiaries of universal basic incomes to mitigate, he added.Porpoises ( / ˈ p ɔː r p ə s ɪ z/) are a group of fully aquatic marine mammals, all of which are classified under the family Phocoenidae, parvorder Odontoceti (toothed whales). Ocean biodiversity loss has human consequences, he warned, such as forced migration from communities dependent on marine life. Keynote speaker, ocean economist Professor Rashid Sumaila from the University of British Columbia, told the conference the oceans of the world are in danger of having more plastic than fish, as overfishing and other damaging activities continue. It’s only by having effective MPAs and using all our sea and ocean areas sustainably, that we can address the biodiversity and climate emergency." "This legislation must not only detail how we effectively manage any new MPAs in the future, but how we better implement protected sites that currently exist. The Fair Seas report said it was possible to increase the level to 36%, and that doing so would not only help restore biodiversity, but also act as vast carbon stores in the climate change crisis.Ĭampaign manager for Fair Seas Aoife O’Mahony said the new legislation will allow Ireland to meet its national and international target of protecting at least 30% of our waters by 2030. The Oireachtas climate committee has published recommendations that Fair Seas said should be reflected in the bill when published.įair Seas last year released an influential report that found a mere 2% of Ireland's coast which is designated as marine protected area must increase 18-fold in order to restore and enhance endangered species such as sharks, puffins, and even blue whales. The originally proposed bill was criticised by environmental groups earlier this year as "falling very short", with "weak and ambiguous language overall", as they addressed the Oireachtas climate committee. Heritage Minister Malcolm Noonan told the conference the legislation is due to be brought to Cabinet before the Oireachtas summer recess in July. The EU's Marine Strategy Framework Directive legally compels member states to establish MPAs. The marine bill currently going through the Oireachtas aims to cement the country's ambition to protect 30% of its maritime area by the end of the decade. "Your beautiful Emerald Isle sits like a jewel in the North Atlantic Ocean, and your enormous maritime area makes you the guardian of ocean giants, rare coral reefs of the deep, and steep staging posts of global important soaring seabird colonies," Dr Earle said. They're home to a stunning array of marine life, from the tiniest forage fish to seabirds, whales, dolphins, and sharks. "The waters surrounding Ireland are rich, with beautiful deepwater corals, magnificent basking sharks. You must speak for them and for the children of the future who cannot be here to make the decisions that are now up to you. The Mission Blue founder said stakeholder engagement was fundamental to decide how the new protected areas would be managed.Įveryone has a stake in the outcomes, including the fish, the whales, and the birds.
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