Over the next few years, parts of the Irish Sea will be given environmental protection as the UK government is committed to establishing a network of Marine Protected Areas by 2012 - as part of the Marine Bill.
The purpose of the Irish Sea Conservation Zones (ISCZ) is to help the people who use the Irish Sea make recommendations to the government. It is the first time this stakeholder led process has been practiced in the UK to help identify marine areas of protection.
The recommendations from users of the Irish Sea will form an essential part of the government’s decision as to which parts of the Irish Sea will be protected and how. The recommendations will go to government in June 2011.
The Irish Sea has lots of different habitats including honeycomb reefs made up of living worms and muddy beds home to sea urchins, Dublin Bay prawns and brittlestars. Other landscapes include rocky reefs, sea grass beds, and gardens made up of plant-like animals called sea pens.
The Irish Sea is also home to important species such as sharks, whales, dolphins and porpoise, as well as the rare and endangered pink sea fan.
Rowan Byrne, project manager of the Irish Sea Conservation Zones, said: “We will only achieve our aims by really engaging a broad range of people who use the Irish Sea.
“We want to talk to everyone and anyone who uses, enjoys or makes their living from the Irish Sea, whether they are anglers, divers, businesses, commercial fishermen or conservation groups. We need them to share their knowledge and expertise so that we can help them recommend a network of potential Marine Conservations Zones to the government.
“These Marine Conservation Zones will need to meet scientific criteria, minimise social and economic costs and maximise benefits to society. We will be working with an independent facilitator to ensure that each group is fully represented.”
