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Displaying items by tag: CarrickonShannon

Waterways Ireland is notifying all masters of vessels that diving operations will take place at Carrick-on-Shannon on Friday 18 December.

The locations of the diving operations are 1 along the quay wall some 30 metres downstream and upstream of the bridge, and along the quay wall near the boat club.

Masters of vessels and all inland waterways users are requested to proceed with additional caution in the vicinity of the diving operations.

Published in Inland Waterways

#Rowing: Portadown Regatta enjoyed almost perfect conditions today. A packed programme was run in bright, warm sunshine and on flat water. RBAI beat the host club in one of the top events of the day, the men’s junior 18 eights final, reversing the decision of last year.

Shauna Murtagh of Carrick-on-Shannon beat Kate Crawford of Portadown in the women’s junior 18 single sculls – a first win in a regatta for the 16-year-old daughter of Ireland great Frances Cryan.

The men’s junior 18 single was won by Hugh Moore of Coleraine Grammar School.

Published in Rowing

#Rowing: The Head of the Shannon enjoyed good weather and an appreciative crowd at Carrick-on-Shannon on Saturday. The timing system encountered some difficulties. Neptune’s junior 18 quadruple were the fastest crew in the first head. The pennant for this class was granted in the second head and Enniskillen took it. The Fermanagh club had a set of wins at junior level, as did Coláiste Iognáid of Galway. Commercial’s junior 16 women’s eight also came out on top.  

Head of the Shannon, Carrick-on-Shannon, Selected Results (Category winners)

Head One

Men

Eight – Jun 16: Col Iognáid. Masters: Neptune (d)

Four – Jun 18, coxed: Enniskillen

Pair – Sen: Galway. Jun 18: Enniskillen

Sculling

Quadruple – Jun 16, coxed: Sligo. Masters: Galway (e). Masters, coxed: Athlone (e).

Double – Sen: Portadown. Masters: City of Derry (d). Jun 18: Enniskillen

Single – Jun 16: Athlone (Carroll)

Women

Eight – Jun 18: Col Iognáid

Four – Club, coxed: Athlone

Sculling, Quadruple – Jun 18: Enniskillen

Double – Club: Carrick-on-Shannon. Jun 16: Commercial

Single – Club: Carrick-on-Shannon (Early). Jun 18: Enniskillen (Fee)

Head Two

Men

Eight, Jun 18: Portadown

Four – Masters, coxed: Athlone (b)

Sculling

Quadruple – Jun 18: Enniskillen

Double – Club: Enniskillen. Jun 16: Enniskillen

Single – Sen: Sligo (G Patterson). Jun 18: Carrick-on-Shannon (Early). Masters: Athlone (Gallen, f)

Women,

Eight

Club: Galway. Jun 16: Commercial. Masters: Tribesmen B (e)

Four – Jun 18: Col Iognáid.

Pair – Jun 18: Col Iognáid

Sculling

Quadruple – Jun 16, coxed: Sligo.

Double – Jun 18: Enniskillen

Single – Club: Carrick-on-Shannon (T Duggan). Jun 16: Carrick-on-Shannon (Murtagh).

Published in Rowing

#Angling - Denis Naughten, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, has officially launched two new angling developments by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) at Emlaghroyan in Roscommon and ‘The Mudflats’ at Carrick-on-Shannon in Co Leitrim.

A new match angling stretch has been provided at Emlaghroyan, on the River Suck in Roscommon, with upgraded car parking and drive-to-peg facilities.

This development involved upgrading existing roadways and the construction of new access roadway.

Ten new match angling pegs have been provided, with a capacity for further extension.

The Suck Valley Angling Hub were recently granted additional funds through the National Strategy for Angling Development (NSAD) to extend the match venue to further promote tourism angling and facilitate match competitions in the Roscommon/East Galway area.

Together with recently unveiled developments on the River Suck at Lough Acalla, the total investment in the River Suck project was €87,000.

In Leitrim, another major 2017 development project has been completed with an investment of €103,000, providing new facilities at ‘The Mudflats’ on the main River Shannon at Carrick-on-Shannon.

The new floating angling stand is accompanied by improved roadways and parking, upgraded toilet facilities and a new slipway.

This is another important match angling venue, used widely for international match angling events such as the World Pairs and the Carrick Angling Festival.

Speaking in Carrick-On-Shannon after the ribbon-cutting ceremony yesterday (Friday 1 December), Minister Naughten said: “I am delighted to mark the official opening of these developments today. Both were completed under the National Strategy for Angling Development (NSAD) and greatly enhance the angling infrastructure in both counties. They will provide a boost to angling tourism potential in the region, which in turn should increase visitor numbers.

“Furthermore, these projects would not be possible without the cooperation, agreement and vision of the respective landowners and I would like to thank all those involved for their contribution to these developments.”

More applications from the region are currently going through the NSAD assessment process, and aim to enhance the angling infrastructure in the upper Shannon areas as well as promote participation in angling.

Two weeks ago Minister Naughten unveiled new angling infrastructure in Galway and Athlone, as previously reported on Afloat.ie.

Published in Angling

#Shannon - RTÉ News reports that the bodies of a man and a woman were recovered from the water at a marina in Carrick-on-Shannon yesterday afternoon (Friday 31 March) just hours after they were reported missing.

The couple, an Irish man and an English woman living in Germany, had been boating in the area since the beginning of the week, and were last seen at a restaurant near the Co Leitrim town’s marina on Wednesday night (29 March). The deaths are being treated as accidental.

Published in News Update

#Rowing - The Carrick-on-Shannon Rowing Regatta will be held on Sunday 31 July on a 400m stretch of the waterway immediately south of the town bridge.

​Hundreds of spectators and competitors are expected at the event, one of the final rowing events of the season, which is supported by Waterways Ireland through its sponsorship programme.

Events begin at 8am and will run till around 6pm. Craft wishing to make a through passage will be facilitated every two hours (approx) during the course of the regatta. Mooring restrictions will apply in Carrick-on-Shannon to facilitate the regatta.

In the interest of marine safety and to facilitate the laying of the competition course, access to the floating moorings will be restricted in the run-up to and during the event itself.

Only vessels of an overall length of 22ft/6.8m or less will be permitted on the floating jetties from Friday 29 to Sunday 31 July. Vessels berthed from Friday 29 July at 4pm will be required to remain in place until racing finishes on the Sunday evening.

The floating jetties will be closed off during this time and no vessels should approach as the entrance to the berths will be closed off and manoeuvring room will be severely restricted due to the proximity of the course. Access to the floating jetties will be monitored from Monday 25 July.

Masters are advised to proceed at slow speed and with due caution and to take note of advice from course marshals when passing through the area.

Further information can be had by contacting the Waterways Ireland inspectorate at +353 (0)87 985 2324 or North Shannon operations at +353 (0)71 96 50787.

Published in Rowing

#Rowing: The Head of the Shannon, fixed for Carrick-on-Shannon this Saturday, December 5th, has been cancelled. The organisers say that the rising water levels on the river, combined with the forecast for the weekend, has left them with no alternative. The Muckross Head is also scheduled for Saturday, at the National Rowing Centre in Cork.

Published in Rowing

#InlandWaterways - Waterways Ireland has advised all masters and users of the Erne system that the channel east of Castle Island near Enniskillen will be closed till Tuesday 11 June to facilitate a number of events on the water.

Mariners are directed to follow the marked navigation channel and signs to the west of Castle Island and proceed at a slow speed and with minimum wash. They should note any advise or instructions given by event organisers when in this section of the navigation.

Public jetties in the vicinity will remain accessible throughout, though some minor restrictions may be in place as and when required. Further information is available from the Lough Erne warden at 028 6632 3004.

Elsewhere, there will also be restricted mooring for masters and owners on the River Shannon at Carrick-on-Shannon to facilitate spectator viewing of the Carrick 400 event.

On Sunday 2 June the quay wall from the downstream face of the town bridge to the floating moorings will be out of bounds for mooring from 7pm till midnight.

In other waterways news, recent water quality testing has shown the harbour at Kilcock on the Royal Canal to now be within normal bathing water standards.

Published in Inland Waterways

# ROWING: Trinity’s intermediate eight were the fastest crew in the first head at the Carrick-on-Shannon Head of the River today. They had almost eight seconds to spare over the second-placed NUIG intermediate eight.

CARRICK-ON-SHANNON HEAD, SATURDAY
1 Dublin University BC mens intermediate 8+12:48.624:23.5 11:34.9 
2 NUI Galway BC mens intermediate 8+13:12.924:55.6 11:42.7 
6 St. Josephs College RC mens intermediate 8+15:21.527:25.4 12:03.9 
5 Dublin University BC Cmens intermediate 8+15:01.927:36.6 12:34.7 
26 Bann RC mens J16 8+28:55.441:38.9 12:43.5
3 NUI Galway BC mens senior 4-13:42.026:31.0 12:48.9
7 Dublin University BC Dmens intermediate 8+16:05.129:00.2 12:55.1
27 Colaiste Iognaid RC mens J16 8+29:42.042:49.6 13:07.6
4 Dublin University BC mens senior 4-14:04.927:25.8 13:21.0
38 Commercial RC mens J16 4X+36:05.549:31.5 13:25.9
12 Athlone BC - Athlone BC/City of Derry BC (e 457)mens masters 8+19:13.732:43.012:16.313:29.3
30 NUI Galway BC mens novice 4+31:49.245:34.0 13:44.8
9 Colaiste Iognaid RC mens J18A 4+18:10.432:00.8 13:50.4
28 St. Josephs College RC mens J16 8+30:15.944:10.4 13:54.5
13 Lady Victoria BC (f 486)mens masters 8+19:37.133:56.412:40.314:19.3
25 Athlone BC mens J16 8+28:21.242:45.2 14:24.0
15 Athlone BC mens J18A 2X20:52.735:21.2 14:28.4
18 Bann RC mens senior 2-23:16.737:45.3 14:28.6
31 Dublin University BC mens novice 4+32:30.447:03.8 14:33.3
14 Commercial RC mens J18A 2X20:15.234:49.5 14:34.3
34 Commercial RC womens intermediate 4+34:09.048:49.7 14:40.8 
37 NUI Galway BC womens intermediate 2X35:34.450:19.8 14:45.4 
52 Dublin University BC B (Jacques)mens intermediate 1X42:14.757:01.3 14:46.6 
51 Commercial RC B (Yeomans)mens intermediate 1X41:36.156:26.6 14:50.6 
56 Dublin University BC D (Acheson)mens intermediate 1X43:46.958:38.8 14:51.9 
50 Three Castles Rowing Club (Corcoran)mens intermediate 1X41:08.156:00.3 14:52.3 
33 NUI Galway BC womens intermediate 4+33:39.648:37.1 14:57.5 
20 Commercial RC mens senior 2-24:16.039:15.8 14:59.8 
21 Commercial RC Bmens senior 2-24:53.539:55.7 15:02.2 
58 Dublin University BC E (Hughes)mens intermediate 1X44:33.159:45.7 15:12.6 
32 NUI Galway BC Bmens novice 4+33:13.248:27.9 15:14.7Boat tipped
35 NUI Galway BC Bwomens intermediate 4+34:36.449:53.0 15:16.7 
44 Carrick-on-Shannon RC B (Leyden)mens intermediate 1X38:49.854:10.9 15:21.1 
23 Commercial RC womens J18A 4X-26:08.041:30.8 15:22.7 
77 Commercial RC mens J15 2X51:02.906:30.0 15:27.1 
16 Colaiste Iognaid RC mens J18A 2X21:39.637:10.8 15:31.2 
48 Carrick-on-Shannon RC A (Cox) mens intermediate 1X40:10.555:41.7 15:31.2 
8 St. Josephs College RC mens J18A 2X22:16.137:47.7 15:31.7 
17 Commercial RC Bmens J18A 2X22:57.138:33.6 15:36.5 
40 Commercial RC womens novice 8+37:21.352:59.1 15:37.9 
22 Colaiste Iognaid RC womens J18A 4X-25:20.740:59.1 15:38.4 
39 Sligo RC mens J16 4X+36:41.852:27.7 15:45.9 
55 Commercial RC D (Carroll)mens intermediate 1X43:21.859:11.5 15:49.7 
64 Carrick-on-Shannon RC (Carthy)mens J18A 1x46:25.902:15.6 15:49.7 
47 Bann RC (Whoriskey)mens intermediate 1X39:40.955:32.9 15:52.0 
60 Dublin University BC G (Pounch)mens intermediate 1X45:21.901:22.1 16:00.2 
61 Athlone BC mens J15 4X+45:54.201:55.7 16:01.5 
75 Lagan Scullers Club B (b 79)mens masters 2X50:09.506:11.915:54.316:02.3 
24 Athlone BC womens J18A 4X-26:49.342:55.3 16:06.0 
122 St. Michaels Rowing Club (e 230)mens masters 4+27:18.743:32.714:55.016:14.0 
72 Carrick-on-Shannon RC womens J16 2X48:51.805:08.8 16:17.0 
57 Commercial RC E (D'Estelle-Roe)mens intermediate 1X44:08.000:28.9 16:20.9 
59 Dublin University BC F (Mc Cormick)mens intermediate 1X44:55.201:17.7 16:22.4
67 Carrick-on-Shannon RC A (Hartigan) mens J16 1X47:39.004:08.7 16:29.7
41 NUI Galway BC womens novice 8+38:10.754:55.3 16:44.6
73 Colaiste Iognaid RC womens J16 2X49:12.405:57.6 16:45.2
65 Carrick-on-Shannon RC (Kelly)womens J18A 1X46:49.803:43.0 16:53.3
29 St. Josephs College RC Bmens J16 8+31:08.348:14.5 17:06.2
49 Belfast BC (Lockwood)mens intermediate 1X40:35.157:46.3 17:11.2
46 Athlone BC (Molloy)mens intermediate 1X39:16.456:40.8 17:24.4
177 Athlone BC womens J15 2X53:03.310:48.0 17:44.7
69 Commercial RC B (O Rourke)mens J16 1X48:06.505:57.1 17:50.6
74 Sligo RC womens J16 2X49:42.707:36.6 17:53.8
54 Dublin University BC C (Dolan)mens intermediate 1X43:04.701:10.7 18:06.0
70 Carrick-on-Shannon RC B (Jordan)mens J16 1X48:27.406:45.8 18:18.4
76 Lagan Scullers Club A - Belfast RC/Lagan Scullers Club (h 146)mens masters 2X50:39.509:00.614:55.118:21.1
66 Commercial RC A (Byrne) mens J16 1X47:21.005:46.9 18:25.9
10 Dublin University BC mens senior 2X18:21.237:01.2 18:40.0
163 Garda Siochana BC womens novice 4+52:42.611:23.0 18:40.4 
80 Belfast BC (Lockwood) (f 62)womens masters 1X51:53.410:52.116:34.718:58.7Time Only
78 Carrick-on-Shannon RC (Brogan)womens J15 1X51:27.110:44.8 19:17.7
Published in Rowing

ROWING: Carrick Rowing Club are delighted that more than 100 crews have entered the Apollo Duck Head of the Shannon in Carrick on Shannon on Saturday, February 18th. There will be two time trial events on the day with crews racing over a 5km stretch of river from south of Carrick back into town. The finish line and viewing area is situated at the boardwalk where crews will be seen going hard for the last few hundred metres.

 The entry features a great representation from Ulster: Bann, Belfast Rowing Club, Belfast Boat Club, Lagan Scullers, City of Derry and Lady Victoria. Portora Club from Enniskillen are also travelling the shorter distance, as are Sligo Rowing Club. Athlone Rowing Club have entered lots of crews, from Junior 15 boys and girls right through to masters rowers.

From Galway, Tribesmen Rowing Club and St. Joseph’s School are set to travel with many up-and-coming rowers. Commercial, Three Castles and Garda Siochana travel from the east of the country.

 The influx will provide a welcome boost to the local economy at a time when things are generally quiet. Details can be found at the event website www.HeadoftheShannon.com while the club welcomes any offers of help on the day.

Published in Rowing
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Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) - FAQS

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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”.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

© Afloat 2022