Marine Environment, Science, wildlife, weather & Ocean energy
France has announced a temporary ban on almost all commercial fishing in the Bay of Biscay to protect dolphins. As Agence France Press (AFP) reports, the restriction extending from Finistere in Brittany to the seas off the Spanish border will…
Flood risk management, biodiversity, seafood and water quality are among themes of the Government’s national adaptation framework on climate which has been opened for public consultation. Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan marked the opening of the month-long…
Storm Isha’s arrival has prompted road and carpark closures along the seafront in Galway’s Salthill, while sandbags have also been made available for vulnerable city areas. Storm Isha is forecast to bring very strong southwest winds with severe and damaging…
The Scottish Government has confirmed that changes will be made to the proposed Visitor Levy Bill, in a move welcomed by marine tourism stakeholders. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the bill had proposed giving powers to local authorities in Scotland…
As Ireland and the UK prepare for Storm Isha this weekend, the RNLI is asking those visiting the coast to be cautious of the dangers. Met Éireann and the Met Office have issued weather warnings ahead of Storm Isha’s arrival…
A Met Éireann Weather Warning of very strong and gusty southwest winds and heavy rainfall has led to the early cancellation of weekend sailing fixtures in Cork Harbour and Dublin Bay. The DMYC at Dun Laoghaire Harbour on Dublin Bay…
Offshore renewable energy and its impact on Irish aquaculture and the implications of the Nature Restoration Law are among themes for this year’s annual Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) aquaculture conference next month. An update from Department of Agriculture, Food and…
The EU’s most senior court has stopped short of applying overfishing rules across all EU fish stocks in a case taken by Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) and environmental lawyers Client Earth. The EU’s Court of Justice has ruled…
A Bermudan whale researcher has confirmed that a humpback photographed in Bermudan waters is “Hookie”, which has been spotted in Irish waters. As The Royal Gazette reports, Andrew Stevenson of Whales Bermuda said this was not only the first match…
Coastal nature protection, management and restoration is the theme of a Coastwatch seminar later this month. The seminar on January 24th in Trinity College, Dublin will focus on seagrass habitat and the Nature Restoration Law. It will also discuss progress…
The Marine Institute has released a new high-resolution geomorphology map on Ireland’s Marine Atlas for most of the Irish continental shelf to support ocean science, environment and biodiversity management and offshore renewable energy development. Geomorphology is the scientific study of…
A survey of Lough Sheelin anglers has found that 94 per cent are now releasing more of the trout they catch back into Lough Sheelin than they did when they started fishing. The Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) research involved 132…
The seas off Wexford have been designated as a proposed new special protection area (SPA) for birds by Minister of State for Heritage Malcolm Noonan. The new SPA adjoins eight existing SPAs designated for this area and will cover over…
Diver, sailor and coffee distributor David Lawlor is not that mad about oysters – he’ll eat them out of politeness – but he is mad about what they can do as keystone species in stabilising marine habitats. That’s why he…
Young student scientist Juliette Ó Súilleabháin recently completed a project studying the conservation of white-clawed crayfish with the support of the Marine Institute. Juliette — a second-year student in St Mary’s Secondary School Mallow — approached the institute’s Marine Environment…
ESB Networks has appealed for vigilance at sea in relation to submarine cables after a fishing vessel cut power to West Cork’s Bere Island last week. ESB Networks restored power to some 280 affected islanders at 11 pm on Friday…