MARA and South East Technological University Sign Co-Operation Agreement

Q: Is there a global target for MPAs?

The Rio ‘Earth Summit’ on climate change in 1992 saw a a global MPA area target of 10% by 2010 deadline. When this was not met, an “Aichi target 11” was set requiring 10% coverage by 2020. There has been repeated efforts since then to tighten up MPA requirements.

MARA and South East Technological University Sign Co-Operation Agreement

20th September 2025

Afloat.ie Team

L-R Mark Mellett, Vice Admiral DSM (Rtd), MARA board chair; Laura Brien, MARA chief executive; Prof. Veronica Campbell, President of SETU; and Dr Dave Dempsey, Chair of the South East Offshore Wind Partnership, at the signing of the cooperation agreement between South East Technological University and MARA in Wexford town. Credit: Brownes Photography

The South East Technological University (SETU) has become the first Irish higher education body to sign a co-operation agreement with the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA).

MARA, which was established in 2023 under the Maritime Area Planning Acts 2021, plays a central role in the regulation of Ireland’s maritime area by assessing and granting maritime area consents and maritime usage licenses.

“For SETU, collaborating with key organisations and industry in its region is central to the university’s mission to drive regional and national impact,” the university says.

“With the rapid expansion of Ireland’s offshore renewable energy sector, there is an increased need for research, innovation, and specialist skills development that SETU can provide in collaboration with MARA,”it says.

L-R Dr Dave Dempsey, Chair of the South East Offshore Wind Partnership; Mark Mellett, Vice Admiral DSM (Rtd), MARA board chair; Capt Phil Murphy, SETU Project Manager Offshore Wind; Laura Brien, MARA chief executive; Pro. Veronica Campbell, President of SETU; Dr Frances Hardiman, Head (Carlow) Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment; Eoin Leahy, Director of Policy and External Affairs at MARA; Tony Collins, Principal Officer at the Department of Climate Energy and the Environment; and Róisín Nolan, Policy Manager at MARA, at the signing of the cooperation agreement between South East Technological University and MARA at the quays in Wexford town Photo: Brownes Photography

“As part of the cooperation agreement, both organisations will work together on projects of mutual interest, promoting the development of educational programmes related to Ireland’s maritime area. It will also focus on connecting with key stakeholders at national and international levels,” the university says.

Speaking at the signing, Professor Veronica Campbell, SETU president, said that “SETU’s agreement with MARA is a significant step forward in aligning our educational and research strengths with Ireland’s maritime and offshore renewable energy ambitions”.

“SETU is the first higher education institution to sign such an agreement with MARA, and I look forward to our collaborative work together as we strengthen Ireland’s maritime sector,” she said.

“ Through our collaboration with MARA, we can ensure that our students, researchers, and regional stakeholders are engaged with a crucial element of the future energy needs and sustainability of our country,” Prof Campbell concluded.

The partnership includes provisions for joint initiatives such as curriculum development, collaborative research, data and knowledge exchange, and the promotion of both organisations’ roles in Ireland’s offshore wind and wider maritime economy.

MARA chief executive Laura Brien welcomed the collaborative agreement.

Both organisations are committed to reviewing the partnership on a continual basis to ensure emerging needs are met, the university says.

Published in Marine Planning, Maritime Training

Published in Marine Planning

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Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) - FAQS

What is a marine protected area?

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are geographically defined maritime areas where human activities are managed to protect important natural or cultural resources. In addition to conserving marine species and habitats, MPAs can support maritime economic activity and reduce the effects of climate change and ocean acidification.

Where are MPAs located?

MPAs can be found across a range of marine habitats, from the open ocean to coastal areas, intertidal zones, bays and estuaries. Marine protected areas are defined areas where human activities are managed to protect important natural or cultural resources.

Where was the world’s first MPA?

The world's first MPA is said to have been the Fort Jefferson National Monument in Florida, North America, which covered 18,850 hectares of sea and 35 hectares of coastal land. This location was designated in 1935, but the main drive for MPAs came much later. The current global movement can be traced to the first World Congress on National Parks in 1962, and initiation in 1976 of a process to deliver exclusive rights to sovereign states over waters up to 200 nautical miles out then began to provide new focus

Is there a global target for MPAs?

The Rio ‘Earth Summit’ on climate change in 1992 saw a global MPA area target of 10% by the 2010 deadline. When this was not met, an “Aichi target 11” was set requiring 10% coverage by 2020. There has been repeated efforts since then to tighten up MPA requirements.

Where is the world’s largest MPA?

Marae Moana is a multiple-use marine protected area created on July 13th 2017 by the government of the Cook islands in the south Pacific, north- east of New Zealand. The area extends across over 1.9 million square kilometres. However, In September 2019, Jacqueline Evans, a prominent marine biologist and Goldman environmental award winner who was openly critical of the government's plans for seabed mining, was replaced as director of the park by the Cook Islands prime minister’s office. The move attracted local media criticism, as Evans was responsible for developing the Marae Moana policy and the Marae Moana Act, She had worked on raising funding for the park, expanding policy and regulations and developing a plan that designates permitted areas for industrial activities.

How are MPAs chosen?

Criteria for identifying and selecting MPAs depends on the overall objective or direction of the programme identified by the coastal state. For example, if the objective is to safeguard ecological habitats, the criteria will emphasise habitat diversity and the unique nature of the particular area.

Are MPAs permanent?

Permanence of MPAs can vary internationally. Some are established under legislative action or under a different regulatory mechanism to exist permanently into the future. Others are intended to last only a few months or years.

Does Ireland have any MPAs?

Yes, Ireland has MPA cover in about 2.13 per cent of our waters. Although much of Ireland’s marine environment is regarded as in “generally good condition”, according to an expert group report for Government published in January 2021, it says that biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation are of “wide concern due to increasing pressures such as overexploitation, habitat loss, pollution, and climate change”.

Are there plans to expand MPAs in Irish waters?

The Government has set a target of 30 per cent MPA coverage by 2030, and moves are already being made in that direction. However, environmentalists are dubious, pointing out that a previous target of ten per cent by 2020 was not met.

What are the international obligations on MPAs?

Conservation and sustainable management of the marine environment has been mandated by a number of international agreements and legal obligations, as an expert group report to government has pointed out. There are specific requirements for area-based protection in the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), the OSPAR Convention, the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Are there specific EU obligations?

Yes, the Marine Strategy Framework directive (2008/56/EC) required member states to put measures in place to achieve or maintain good environmental status in their waters by 2020. Under the directive a coherent and representative network of MPAs had to be created by 2016.

How does Ireland compare to other coastal countries for MPAs?

Ireland was about halfway up the EU table in designating protected areas under existing habitats and bird directives in a comparison published by the European Commission in 2009. However, the Fair Seas campaign, an environmental coalition formed in 2022, points out that Ireland is “lagging behind “ even our closest neighbours, such as Scotland which has 37 per cent. The Fair Seas campaign wants at least 10 per cent of Irish waters to be designated as “fully protected” by 2025, and “at least” 30 per cent by 2030.

How is our nearest neighbour, Britain, doing on MPAs?

Nearly a quarter of Britain’s territorial waters are covered by MPAs, set up to protect vital ecosystems and species. However, a conservation NGO, Oceana, said that analysis of fishing vessel tracking data published in The Guardian in October 2020 found that more than 97% of British MPAs created to safeguard ocean habitats, are being dredged and bottom trawled.

How are Irish MPAs protected?

There’s the rub. Currently, there is no definition of an MPA in Irish law, and environment protections under the Wildlife Acts only apply to the foreshore.

So is there any protection for sensitive habitats and species beyond the foreshore?

Current protection in marine areas beyond 12 nautical miles is limited to measures taken under the EU Birds and Habitats Directives or the OSPAR Convention. This means that habitats and species that are not listed in the EU Directives, but which may be locally, nationally or internationally important, cannot currently be afforded the necessary protection

Is legislation planned for Ireland?

Yes. In late March 2022, Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien said that the Government had begun developing “stand-alone legislation” to enable identification, designation and management of MPAs to meet Ireland’s national and international commitments.

That sounds like good news for MPAs in Ireland?

Yes. Environmental groups are not happy, as they have pointed out that legislation on marine planning took precedence over legislation on MPAs, due to the push to develop offshore renewable energy.

Is all activity banned in MPAs?

No, but some activities may be banned or restricted. Extraction is the main activity affected as in oil and gas activities; mining; dumping; and bottom trawling

Is there a cost to MPAs?

The Government’s expert group report noted that MPA designations are likely to have the greatest influence on the “capture fisheries, marine tourism and aquaculture sectors”. It said research suggests that the net impacts on fisheries could ultimately be either positive or negative and will depend on the type of fishery involved and a wide array of other factors.

Is there an economic benefit to MPAs?

The same report noted that marine tourism and recreation sector can substantially benefit from MPA designation. However, it said that the “magnitude of the benefits” will depend to a large extent on the location of the MPA sites within the network and the management measures put in place.