Global oceans could be in a more fragile state than previously apparent, new research published today suggests. An international team involving Trinity College Dublin (TCD) has shown that current de-oxygenation levels are very similar to those that were implicated in…

“Urgent” research into water degradation, climate change and biodiversity loss on the islands of Ireland and Britain will be led by a new 41.3 million euro climate research centre based at Trinity College, Dublin (TCD). The Climate+ Co-Centre will initially…

A West Cork-based whale-watching tour business has ended its 2023 season early, blaming overfishing of sprat for the absence of the usual whale visitors to the South Coast. In a social media post on Monday (27 November), Cork Whale Watch…

Imagine being on your own on a Blasket island, dependent on several divers to come and collect you – and then their dinghy runs out of fuel. If a fishing vessel hadn’t spotted the reflection of a mirror they had…

Explore the depths of Dublin Bay, from Killiney to Howth, in remarkable detail thanks to a new addition to INFOMAR’s Bluescale Map Series. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the collection when complete will comprise 18 high-resolution bathymetric maps highlighting the…

Greater detail and certainty on the location of offshore renewable energy (ORE) off the Irish coast and greater alignment with relevant policies and plans were among key issues raised during public consultation on the State’s draft second ORE development plan.…

Enterprise Ireland will host the third Enterprise Ireland Offshore Wind Forum in Croke Park next Tuesday (28 November), featuring an address from Simon Coveney TD, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. This one-day knowledge and networking event will convene the…

Continuing sustainable communities on Irish islands are at risk due to a critical lack of housing, according to a report published today by Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann, the Irish Islands Federation. The report calls on the Government to establish an…

The Rivers Trust supports the findings of new report that rings alarm bells about the critical state of water quality management in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. The Surfers Against Sewage Water Quality Report for 2023 says that in Northern…

Scoping the creation of Ireland’s first underwater artificial reef in Mayo’s Killala Bay has received a grant of 50,000 euro as one of a number of outdoor projects approved for funding by Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys.…

An indicative “road map” towards the State’s next offshore wind auction has been published by the Government. The timeline relates to “ORESS 2.1”, which will take place off Ireland’s south coast and provide for up to 900MW of offshore wind.…

The Irish arm of the world’s largest farmed salmon producer has applied for an Aquaculture/Foreshore Licence for a proposed facility at Deenish Island in Co Kerry. Silver King Seafoods Ltd, which is wholly owned by Mowi Ireland, is seeking to…

A team of 12 marine scientists onboard the brand new UK polar research ship, RRS Sir David Attenborough, set sail on 20 November to Antarctica to study the impact of environmental changes on Antarctic ecosystems and sea ice. The results…

The Fair Seas Project was a winner at this year’s Institute of Designers in Ireland (IDI) Awards - the Design for Good Award, for their work on driving awareness about the need for greater marine biodiversity protection in Irish waters.…

Irish offshore islands are used to having to wait, whether it is for safe piers or electricity decades ago. However, they are being prioritised for pure fibre links under the national broadband plan. Three West Cork islands are due to…

Galway Bay Sailing Club (GBSC) has shared with Afloat.ie photos of before and after its clean-up operation following the devastation caused by Storm Debi last week. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, some 20 boats and dinghies parked at the club…