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Displaying items by tag: DUBLIN PORT Dublin Bay Sailing Club Results

#DetainedCargoship – The detained Belize-flagged 19,000 tonnes cargo-bulker, Clipper Faith, previously reported on Afloat.ie, had to shift berths in Dublin port today so in order to accommodate a cruiseship, writes Jehan Ashmore.

In place of the Clipper Faith is the French flagged cruiseship Le Boreal, which is berthed near the East-Link toll-lift bridge along the North Wall Quay extension, the site of the proposed new dedicated cruise terminal which forms part of the Dublin Port masterplan.

Clipper Faith subsequently shifted berths downriver to the channel fairway and docked at the ESB jetty, where the bulker had originally berthed alongside more than two months ago.

 

Published in Ports & Shipping
DUBLIN PORT Dublin Bay Sailing Club Results for 28 AUGUST 2010

CRUISERS 3 ˆ ECHO 1. Asterix (J.Counihan/F.Meredith), 2. Jammie Dodger (J.H & D.O'Neill), 3. Jabiru (M & S Renwick)

CRUISERS 3 - 1. Asterix (J.Counihan/F.Meredith), 2. Jabiru (M & S Renwick), 3. Jammie Dodger (J.H & D.O'Neill)

CRUISERS 4 - 1. Ghrazel (Charles Pearson), 2. Rascal (K.Burke/S.Milner), 3. Maranda (Myles Kelly)

DRAGON - 1. Phantom (D.Williams/P.Bowring), 2. Susele (Michael Halpenny), 3. Chiang (Iain Finnegan)

DRAGON - RACE 3 1. Phantom (D.Williams/P.Bowring), 2. Chiang (Iain Finnegan), 3. Susele (Michael Halpenny)

DRAGON - RACE 2 1. Susele (Michael Halpenny), 2. Phantom (D.Williams/P.Bowring), 3. Chiang (Iain Finnegan)

FLYING FIFTEEN - 1. Hy5ive (D & S Gorman), 2. Rollercoaster (Tom Murphy), 3. The Gruffalo (Keith Poole)

FLYING FIFTEEN ˆ RACE 2 1. Hy5ive (D & S Gorman), 2. Fflogger (Alan Dooley), 3. The Gruffalo (Keith Poole)

GLEN - 1. Glenluce (D & R O'Connor), 2. Glenshesk (L.Faulkner et al), 3. Pterodactyl (R & D McCaffrey)

IDRA 14 FOOT - RACE 2 1. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton), 2. Squalls (Stephen Harrison)

IDRA 14 FOOT - 1. Squalls (Stephen Harrison), 2. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Ruffles (Michael Cutliffe), 2. Ruff Nuff (D & C Mitchell), 3. Ruff N Ready (Ann Kirwan et al)

SHIPMAN - 1. Jo Slim (J.Clarke et al), 2. Euphanzel lll (Louis McSherry et al), 3. Curraglas (John Masterson)

SQUIB - 1. Why Not (Derek & Jean Jago), 2. Perfection (Jill Fleming), 3. Sidewinder (D.Croke/R.Bowen)

SQUIB - RACE 2 1. Why Not (Derek & Jean Jago), 2. Chillax (Mary McLoughlin), 3. Perfection (Jill Fleming)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS - ECHO 1. Calypso (Howard Knott), 2. The Great Escape (P & D Rigney), 3. Act Two (Michael O'Leary et al)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS - 1. Calypso (Howard Knott), 2. Act Two (Michael O'Leary et al), 3. The Great Escape (P & D Rigney)

Published in DBSC

Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) was cancelled tonight due to poor visibility on Dublin Bay.

Published in DBSC
DUBLIN PORT Dublin Bay Sailing Club Results for 7 AUGUST 2010

BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Prospect (Chris Johnston), 2. Violet Flame (B.Murphy/L.Osbourne), 3. Thirty Something (Gerry Jones et al)

BENETEAU 31.7 Echo- 1. Violet Flame (B.Murphy/L.Osbourne), 2. Kernach (Eoin O'Driscoll), 3. Extremity (Paul D'Alton)

CRUISERS 0 Echo - 1. WOW (George Sisk), 2. Tsunami (Vincent Farrell)

CRUISERS 0 - 1. WOW (George Sisk), 2. Tsunami (Vincent Farrell)

CRUISERS 1 Echo - 1. Jetstream (Peter Redden), 2. Aztec 3 (Peter Beamish), 3. Something Else (J.Hall et al)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Joker 11 (John Maybury), 2. Jetstream (Peter Redden), 3. Aztec 3 (Peter Beamish)

CRUISERS 2 Echo - 1. Bendemeer (Gerald Kinsella), 2. Cor Baby (Keith Kiernan et al), 3. Red Rhum (J Nicholson)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Jawesome 11 (V.Kennedy/M.Dyke), 2. Bendemeer (Gerald Kinsella), 3. Red Rhum (J Nicholson)

CRUISERS 3 Echo - 1. Carrabeg (D.Martin/R.Deasy), 2. Saki (Paget McCormack et al), 3. Gung Ho (G & S O'Shea)

CRUISERS 3 - 1. Gung Ho (G & S O'Shea), 2. Asterix (J.Counihan/F.Meredith), 3. Supernova (K.Lawless et al)

CRUISERS 4 - 1. Rascal (K.Burke/S.Milner), 2. Maranda (Myles Kelly)

DRAGON Race 1- 1. Diva (R.Johnson/R.Goodbody), 2. Phantom (D.Williams/P.Bowring), 3. Susele (Michael Halpenny)

DRAGON Race 2- 1. Diva (R.Johnson/R.Goodbody), 2. Zinzan (Daniel O'Connor et al), 3. Phantom (D.Williams/P.Bowring)

DRAGON Race 3- 1. Diva (R.Johnson/R.Goodbody), 2. Zinzan (Daniel O'Connor et al), 3. Susele (Michael Halpenny)

FIREBALL Race 1- 1. Elevation (N.Colin/M.Casey), 2. Licence to Thrill (Louis Smyth)

FIREBALL Race 2- 1. Licence to Thrill (Louis Smyth), 2. Elevation (N.Colin/M.Casey)

FLYING FIFTEEN Race 1- 1. Kooigjug (K Dumpleton), 2. Hy5ive (D & S Gorman), 3. Gekko (S & P Nolan)

FLYING FIFTEEN Race 2- 1. Kooigjug (K Dumpleton), 2. Snow White (Frank Burgess), 3. Hy5ive (D & S Gorman)

GLEN - 1. Glenluce (D & R O'Connor), 2. Glenshesk (L.Faulkner et al), 3. Pterodactyl (R & D McCaffrey)

IDRA 14 FOOT Race 1- 1. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton), 2. Sapphire (Lorcan O'Sullivan), 3. Squalls (Stephen Harrison)

IDRA 14 FOOT Race 1- 1. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton), 2. Sapphire (Lorcan O'Sullivan)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Alias (D.Meeke/M.McCarthy), 2. Ruffles (Michael Cutliffe), 3. Ruff N Ready (Ann Kirwan et al)

SHIPMAN - 1. Jo Slim (J.Clarke et al), 2. Euphanzel lll (Louis McSherry et al), 3. Curraglas (John Masterson)

SIGMA 33 - 1. Rupert (R.Lovegrove/P.Varian), 2. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 3. Gwili Two (D.Clarke/P.Maguire)

SQUIB Race 1- 1. Anemos (Pete & Ann Evans), 2. Femme Fatale (Joe O'Byrne), 3. Kookaburra (P & M Dee)

SQUIB Race 2- 1. Femme Fatale (Joe O'Byrne), 2. Nimble (Brian O'Hare), 3. Perfection (Jill Fleming)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS Echo - 1. Finnegans Wake (T.Rowlands et al), 2. Coumeenole (Bill Kavanagh), 3. Calypso (Howard Knott)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS - 1. Act Two (Michael O'Leary et al), 2. Calypso (Howard Knott), 3. Windshift (R O'Flynn et al)

Published in DBSC

In a day that presented little chance for sailing, last night produced a steady south easterly breeze of 6-8 knots for Thrusday evening's Dublin Bay Sailing Club race. Red Rhum (J.Nicholson) made the most of the summer conditions to win in Class two from Peridot (Jim McCann) with Adrienne Jermyn's Helter Skleter third. In the one design Dragon class Peter Dee sailing Zu tackled the ebbing tide best and was the winner from Richard Goodbody's on form  boat, Diva. Full results are below:

 

DUBLIN PORT Dublin Bay Sailing Club Results for 20 MAY 2010                          

BENETEAU 31.7 - ECHO 1. Levana (Jean Mitton), 2. Flying Machine (Conor O'Gallagher), 3. Legally Blonde (C.Drohan/P.Egan)             

BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Levana (Jean Mitton), 2. Legally Blonde (C.Drohan/P.Egan), 3. Flying Machine (Conor O'Gallagher)                  

CRUISERS 0 - ECHO 1. Tsunami (Vincent Farrell), 2. WOW (George Sisk)                         

CRUISERS 0 - 1. WOW (George Sisk), 2. Tsunami (Vincent Farrell)                              

CRUISERS 1 - ECHO 1. Errislannan (Patrick Kirwan), 2. Team Windmill (Andrew Sarratt), 3. Another Adventure (Darragh Cafferkey)                    

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Joker 11 (John Maybury), 2. Errislannan (Patrick Kirwan), 3. Xtravagance (Colin Byrne)                        

CRUISERS 2 - ECHO 1. Red Rhum (J Nicholson), 2. Peridot (Jim McCann et al), 3. Helter Skelter (Adrienne Jermyn)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Red Rhum (J Nicholson), 2. Peridot (Jim McCann et al), 3. Bendemeer (Gerald Kinsella)                     

CRUISERS 3 - 1. Hard on Port (Flor O'Driscoll), 2. Rattler 2 (Austin Whelan), 3. Two Step (Ross Doyle)                        

CRUISERS 3 - ECHO 1. Hyflyer (John Barnard), 2. Lady Rowena (David Bolger), 3. Grasshopper 2 (K & J Glynn)                        

CRUISERS 4 - 1. Maranda (Myles Kelly), 2. Aslana (J.Martin/B.Mulkeen)          

DRAGON - 1. Zu (P.Dee et al), 2. Diva (R.Johnson/R.Goodbody), 3. Susele (Michael Halpenny)                     

FLYING FIFTEEN - 1. Hy5ive (D & S Gorman), 2. Fifty Somethings (David Mulvin), 3. The Big Bow Wow (N.Meagher/N.Matthews)        

GLEN - 1. Glencorel (B.Waldock/K.Malcolm), 2. Glencree (J.Bligh/H.Roche), 3. Glenluce (D & R O'Connor)                     

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Ruff Nuff (D & C Mitchell), 2. Ruffles (Michael Cutliffe), 3. Ruff N Ready (Ann Kirwan et al)                           

SB3s - 1. Sin Bin (Barry O'Neill), 2. Bom Chickawahwah (John O'Driscoll), 3. Design Security (Colin Galavan)                      

SHIPMAN - 1. Gusto (C Heath), 2. Jo Slim (J.Clarke et al), 3. Curraglas (John Masterson)                    

SIGMA 33 - 1. Rupert (R.Lovegrove/P.Varian), 2. Popje (Ted McCourt), 3. Miss Behavin' (A Bell et al)                                          

SQUIB - 1. Lola (Frank Whelan), 2. Anemos (Pete & Ann Evans), 3. Chillax (Mary McLoughlin)                   

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS - ECHO 1. Coumeenole (Bill Kavanagh), 2. Act Two (Michael O'Leary et al), 3. Lucy O (Aonghus O hEocha)                       

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS - 1. Act Two (Michael O'Leary et al), 2. Calypso (Howard Knott), 3. Hypertension (William Rickard)

Neil Colin's appropriately named Elevation went straight to the top of the local Dublin Bay Sailing Club Fireball dinghy fleet in last night's race in Scotsman's Bay. Racing in moderate westerly conditions and an ebb tide, Marie Barry's Reality Check was second and Incubus (S Oram) third. In the IDRA 14 dinghy class Frank Hamilton's Dunmoanin continues his winning run. Full sailing results click read more.

 

DUBLIN PORT Dublin Bay Sailing Club Results for 18 MAY 2010                          

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Jalapeno (Dermod Baker et al), 2. Lula Belle (Liam Coyne)                        

CRUISERS 3 - 1. Grasshopper 2 (K & J Glynn), 2. Chouskikou (R.Sheehan/R.Hickey), 3. Papytoo (M.Walsh/F.Guilfoyle)         

CRUISERS 4 - 1. Maranda (Myles Kelly), 2. Aslana (J.Martin/B.Mulkeen), 3. Ghrazel (Charles Pearson)                                           

FIREBALL - 1. Elevation (N.Colin/M.Casey), 2. Reality Check (Marie Barry), 3. Incubus (S Oram)                         

GLEN - 1. Glencorel (B.Waldock/K.Malcolm)         

IDRA 14 FOOT - 1. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton), 2. Dart (Pierre Long), 3. Doody (J.Fitzgerald/J.Byrne)        

MERMAID - 1. Tiller Girl (J.O'Rourke), 2. Lively Lady (G O'Neill & M Hanney), 3. Kim (D Cassidy)                      

PY CLASS - 1. Joan Flanagan (Laser), 2. Richard Tate (Laser), 3. David Dwyer (Laser)                       

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Alias (D.Meeke/M.McCarthy), 2. Cresendo (L Balfe), 3. Diane ll (Bruce Carswell)                     

SIGMA 33 - 1. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 2. Pippa lV (G.Kinsman/K.Blake/M.O'Brien) 

SQUIB - 1. Little Demon (Marie Dee), 2. Periguin (N.Coakley/J.Redahan)

Published in DBSC

Try as they might neither the SB3s (16 raced), the Dragons (eight) or the Flying Fifteens (12) managed to successfully fly spinnakers on a reach to New Ross mark tonight. It was therefore a disappointing first leg but one positive outcome of this white sail procession was that it kept the boats tightly packed for the next shifty leg in towards the Sandycove shoreline.

Dublin Bay Sailing Club's Thursday night racing for 17 keelboat classes – and an excellent turnout – began in medium south westerly winds. The racing started just as the tide began to flood.

Nine J109s on a slightly broader first leg to Zebra mark all managed to keep kites going even though there were some dramatic moments – and at least one broach – as gusts hit 16 knots at times.

The Dragon class had a number of lead changes with Diva (R.Johnson/R.Goodbody) winning from Phantom (D.Williams/P.Bowring), and third Zu (P.Dee et al). Alert Packaging (Justin Burke) won the SB3s with Sin Bin (Barry O'Neill) second and third was Sacrebleu (R.Hayes/D.Smith). See below for full results.

The departure of a large cruise liner, The Marco Polo, from Dublin Port proved to be a remarkable back drop to the racing action on a night where winds eased to 10 knots as most classes were finishing at the Mac Lir committee Boat in Scotsman's Bay.

 

DUBLIN PORT Dublin Bay Sailing Club Results for 13 MAY 2010

BENETEAU 31.7 – ECHO 1. Levana (Jean Mitton), 2. Magic (D.O'Sullivan/D.Espey), 3. Attitude (D.Owens/T.Milner)

BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Levana (Jean Mitton), 2. Magic (D.O'Sullivan/D.Espey), 3. Prospect (Chris Johnston)

CRUISERS 0 - ECHO 1. WOW (George Sisk), 2. Tsunami (Vincent Farrell), 3. Lively Lady (Derek Martin)

CRUISERS 0 - 1. WOW (George Sisk), 2. Tsunami (Vincent Farrell), 3. Lively Lady (Derek Martin)

CRUISERS 1 - ECHO 1. Something Else (J.Hall et al), 2. Jetstream (Peter Redden), 3. Joker 11 (John Maybury)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Something Else (J.Hall et al), 2. Joker 11 (John Maybury)

CRUISERS 2 - ECHO 1. Jawesome 11 (V.Kennedy/M.Dyke), 2. Kit (Graeme Hanna), 3. Helter Skelter (Adrienne Jermyn)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Jawesome 11 (V.Kennedy/M.Dyke), 2. Why Not 2 (Stephen Oram et al), 3. Kit (Graeme Hanna)

CRUISERS 3 - ECHO 1. Hard on Port (Flor O'Driscoll), 2. Two Step (Ross Doyle), 3. Supernova (K.Lawless et al)

CRUISERS 3 - 1. Hard on Port (Flor O'Driscoll), 2. Two Step (Ross Doyle), 3. Supernova (K.Lawless et al)

DRAGON - 1. Diva (R.Johnson/R.Goodbody), 2. Phantom (D.Williams/P.Bowring), 3. Zu (P.Dee et al)

FLYING FIFTEEN - 1. Deranged (C.Doorly), 2. Fflogger (Alan Dooley), 3. Hy5ive (D & S Gorman)

GLEN - 1. Glencree (J.Bligh/H.Roche), 2. Glenmarissa (F.Elmes/W.Higgins)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Ruff N Ready (Ann Kirwan et al), 2. Ruff Nuff (D & C Mitchell), 3. Diane ll (Bruce Carswell)

SB3s - 1. Alert Packaging (Justin Burke), 2. Sin Bin (Barry O'Neill), 3. Sacrebleu (R.Hayes/D.Smith)

SHIPMAN - 1. Malindi (B.Smith/A.Gray), 2. Curraglas (John Masterson), 3. Gusto (C Heath)

SIGMA 33 - 1. Rupert (R.Lovegrove/P.Varian), 2. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 3. Popje (Ted McCourt)

SQUIB - 1. Absolutely Fabulous (N Kennedy/P Reilly), 2. Little Demon (Marie Dee), 3. Chillax (Mary McLoughlin)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS - ECHO 1. Persistence (C. Broadhead et al), 2. Act Two (Michael O'Leary et al), 3. Edenpark (Liam Farmer)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS - 1. Persistence (C. Broadhead et al), 2. Act Two (Michael O'Leary et al), 3. Arwen (Philip O'Dwyer)

Published in DBSC

Dublin bay Sailing Club's tightly bunched Cruisers Zero fleet made a fine sight as they filed out of Dublin Bay in rolling waves towards the Burford bank today. The biggest boats of the DBSC fleet were sailing in north easterly winds gusting to over 20 knots. The spectacle of the hard pressed yachts was made all the better by the bright sunshine that filled the bay area this afternoon. Cruisers Zero short tacked towards Poldy buoy before fetching off for the New Ross mark. Some entries were heavily reefed but others, such as Lively Lady, Derek Martin's Beneteau 44.7 from the Royal Irish YC opted for full main. It was a decision that produced good gains on port tack especially as the mean wind strength was often only 16 to 18 knots. Unfortunately there was little chance for spinnakers on the leg back into the bay to New Ross but by the end of this leg, at least one of the J109s had hoisted a blue gennaker. The action was short-lived though. By 3.30pm the bulk of the fleet were back in harbour after only an hour of sailing in the best breeze of the season. With many class starts cancelled it was left to individual boats to venture out and enjoy the surf as many in the Flying fifteens did. Results below: 

DUBLIN PORT Dublin Bay Sailing Club Results for 8 MAY 2010

BENETEAU 31.7 Echo- 1. Prospect (Chris Johnston), 2. Flying Machine (Conor O'Gallagher), 3. Thirty Something (Gerry Jones et al)

BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Prospect (Chris Johnston), 2. Flying Machine (Conor O'Gallagher), 3. Magic (D.O'Sullivan/D.Espey)

CRUISERS 0 Echo - 1. WOW (George Sisk), 2. Lively Lady (Derek Martin)

CRUISERS 0 - 1. WOW (George Sisk), 2. Lively Lady (Derek Martin)

CRUISERS 1 Echo - 1. Jump The Gun (M.Monaghan/J.Kelly), 2. Something Else (J.Hall et al), 3. Indecision (Declan Hayes et al)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Something Else (J.Hall et al), 2. Aztec 3 (Peter Beamish), 3. Joker 11 (John Maybury)

 

Published in DBSC

Westerly winds gusting to over 10 knots provided ample breeze for the first Dublin Bay Sailing Club Thursday race of the season. Colin Galavan's Design Security was the winner in a large turnout of  SB3s and Charles Broadhead's Persistence was the winner of the White Sail Cruisers on ECHO handicap. A full set of sailing results is published here.

 

DUBLIN PORT Dublin Bay Sailing Club Results for 29 APRIL 2010                          

BENETEAU 31.7 Echo- 1. Attitude (D.Owens/T.Milner), 2. Magic (D.O'Sullivan/D.Espey), 3. Prospect (Chris Johnston)                     

BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Magic (D.O'Sullivan/D.Espey), 2. Attitude (D.Owens/T.Milner), 3. Prospect (Chris Johnston)                     

CRUISERS 0 Echo - 1. Tsunami (Vincent Farrell), 2. Lively Lady (Derek Martin)                       

CRUISERS 1 Echo - 1. Jalapeno (Dermod Baker et al), 2. Something Else (J.Hall et al), 3. Another Adventure (Darragh Cafferkey)                    

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Jalapeno (Dermod Baker et al), 2. Joker 11 (John Maybury), 3. Something Else (J.Hall et al)                           

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Jawesome 11 (V.Kennedy/M.Dyke), 2. Peridot (Y Charrier et al), 3. Red Rhum (J Nicholson)                    

CRUISERS 2 Echo - 1. Red Rhum (J Nicholson), 2. Peridot (Y Charrier et al), 3. Jawesome 11 (V.Kennedy/M.Dyke)            

CRUISERS 3 Echo - 1. Gung Ho (G & S O'Shea), 2. Lady Rowena (David Bolger), 3. Jiminy Cricket (Mona Tyndall)                      

CRUISERS 3 - 1. Gung Ho (G & S O'Shea), 2. Supernova (K.Lawless et al), 3. Cries of Passion (Bryan Maguire)                      

FLYING FIFTEEN - 1. Fifty Somethings (David Mulvin), 2. Deranged (C.Doorly), 3. Flyer (Niall Coleman)                      

GLEN - 1. Glendun (B.Denham et al), 2. Glencorel (B.Waldock/K.Malcolm), 3. Glenshane (P Hogan)                                

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Ruff Nuff (D & C Mitchell), 2. Ruffles (Michael Cutliffe), 3. Diane ll (Bruce Carswell)                     

SB3s - 1. Design Security (Colin Galavan), 2. Blue Bird (Cathy McAleavy), 3. Sin Bin (Barry O'Neill)                      

SHIPMAN - 1. Poppy (Peter Wallis et al), 2. Whiterock (Henry Robinson), 3. Curraglas (John Masterson)                    

SIGMA 33 - 1. Popje (Ted McCourt), 2. Rupert (R.Lovegrove/P.Varian), 3. Enchantress (Michael Larkin et al)                           

SQUIB - 1. Aquabats (Brendan Fogarty), 2. Absolutely Fabulous (N Kennedy/P Reilly), 3. Anemos (Pete & Ann Evans)                        

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS Echo - 1. Persistence (C. Broadhead et al), 2. Afternoon Delight (Michael Bennett et al), 3. Lucy O (Aonghus O hEocha)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS - 1. Persistence (C. Broadhead et al), 2. Windshift (R O'Flynn et al), 3. Arwen (Philip O'Dwyer)

Published in DBSC

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