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Coastal Development in Ireland
The survey vessel Ros Áine
Operators of the North Irish Sea Array (NISA) offshore wind farm are undertaking a geophysical survey campaign on its proposed export cable route area, off the coast of north Co Dublin and Co Meath. This campaign is expected to run…
This year’s Carlingford Ambassadors get tuition in angling at Camlough Lake in Co Armagh
A group of 16 young people came together last month for a five-day programme exploring the natural resources of the Carlingford catchment. The Loughs Agency’s Carlingford Ambassador programme aims to connect young people to the waterways in their local area…
File image of a lesser weever fish
Beachgoers in West Cork have been advised to don footwear on the sand to protect against nasty stings from weever fish. As the Southern Star reports, the venomous marine wildlife — whose spined dorsal fins and gills deliver a painful…
Galway Atlantaquaria's Garry Kendellen with BIAZA award winners Ultan McManus, Esmé McManus and Amelia Walker
Galway Atlantaquaria Ocean ambassadors and Clean Coasts volunteers have been recognised by the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) for their “outstanding” work. The association’s new “Zoo and Aquarium Hero” award is conferred on a “select few…
The assessment of the Government’s performance in relation to its Climate Action Plan commitments (downloadable below) was commissioned by Friends of the Earth, which states it had no role in deciding the results.
Three experts have rated Government progress on climate and environment as a “C”, which is down from last year’s “C+” score. The water and marine category is rated as “poor”, and rated 4.5 out of 10 compared to 5.5 in…
File image of the strand at Tramore in Co Waterford
Waterford City and County Council has been criticised for its use of bleach to disinfect streams that enter the sea near two popular coastal bathing areas, as TheJournal.ie reports. The council says it uses sodium hypochlorite to sanitise streams near…
RV Prince Madog
Bangor University will be surveying with hull-mounted and towed acoustic equipment in the Celtic Sea, off the southern coastline of Ireland south of Kilmore Quay, outside the 12 nautical mile limit. The survey is due to commence on Tuesday 23…
Magheramore Beach in Co Wicklow
It’s emerged that Wicklow County Council has investigated a large wooden structure overlooking the popular Magheramore Beach for potential breach of planning rules. According to TheJournal.ie, the probe was on the foot of complaints raised by locals over the house-like…
Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue
The future of Ireland’s marine sector will be discussed as part of a major event on agri-food policy hosted by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue in Dublin Castle on Thursday 13 October. Speaking about Food Vision…
The cable-laying vessel CS Durable
SubCom will be carrying out subsea cable installation operations in Irish waters off the coast of Co Mayo, scheduled to begin Thursday 18 August. A total of three vessels will be working on the America Europe Connect-2 project: the guard…
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) says it is investigating a “very concerning” claim by Coastwatch that a local authority is chlorinating local streams which flow into a popular southeast beach. Coastwatch spokeswoman Karin Dubsky says that children are at risk, along…
The Giant’s Causeway near Portrush in Northern Ireland
Four coastal locations around the island of Ireland are in the running to be named Ireland’s best place to holiday this year, with the winner to be announced this August Bank Holiday weekend. Carlingford in Co Louth on the shores of…
Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue
Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue has today (Monday 25 July) announced approval for a scheme which will provide €20 million in funding for capital investments to accelerate the sustainable growth of the aquaculture sector. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the scheme…
Salmon farming in Millstone Bay, Co Donegal
The fast-changing and evolving landscape of Ireland’s post-Brexit blue economy mean the skills needed for these types of jobs in coastal communities are also changing and evolving. Individuals already working in the blue economy who want to develop their career…
Smooth Point Quay at Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre
Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue today (Monday 18 July) announced the award of a €10.5 million (ex VAT) capital works contract to complete a 120m quay development and associated works for Smooth Point at Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre in Co Donegal.…
Map showing the location of the Corrib Gas Field and pipeline
Vermilion Exploration & Production Ireland Limited will carry out a campaign of inspection of the Corrib Gas Field near-shore pipeline and umbilical. Weather permitting, these works are due to commence on Thursday 7 July and will last for approximately 10…

Coastal Notes Coastal Notes covers a broad spectrum of stories, events and developments in which some can be quirky and local in nature, while other stories are of national importance and are on-going, but whatever they are about, they need to be told.

Stories can be diverse and they can be influential, albeit some are more subtle than others in nature, while other events can be immediately felt. No more so felt, is firstly to those living along the coastal rim and rural isolated communities. Here the impact poses is increased to those directly linked with the sea, where daily lives are made from earning an income ashore and within coastal waters.

The topics in Coastal Notes can also be about the rare finding of sea-life creatures, a historic shipwreck lost to the passage of time and which has yet many a secret to tell. A trawler's net caught hauling more than fish but cannon balls dating to the Napoleonic era.

Also focusing the attention of Coastal Notes, are the maritime museums which are of national importance to maintaining access and knowledge of historical exhibits for future generations.

Equally to keep an eye on the present day, with activities of existing and planned projects in the pipeline from the wind and wave renewables sector and those of the energy exploration industry.

In addition Coastal Notes has many more angles to cover, be it the weekend boat leisure user taking a sedate cruise off a long straight beach on the coast beach and making a friend with a feathered companion along the way.

In complete contrast is to those who harvest the sea, using small boats based in harbours where infrastructure and safety poses an issue, before they set off to ply their trade at the foot of our highest sea cliffs along the rugged wild western seaboard.

It's all there, as Coastal Notes tells the stories that are arguably as varied to the environment from which they came from and indeed which shape people's interaction with the surrounding environment that is the natural world and our relationship with the sea.