Two Government ministers have welcomed the European Parliament vote approving the Nature Restoration Law. While the controversial legislation has a strong land-based focus, it includes important elements aimed at improving water quality in member states. Minister for Marine Charlie McConalogue…

Ireland's leading environmental NGOs and networks coalition, Fair Seas, has welcomed the announcement of €25 million in new funding for the protection of Irish seas. The European Commission has allocated €15 million, which is matched by €10 million from the…

The success of the “living lab” at Galway’s Grattan beach is the focus of a workshop in Salthill this evening (Tues Feb 27). As Afloat previously reported, the project to install sand fences at Grattan Beach was piloted last year…

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has welcomed the outcome of its prosecution of Uisce Éireann (formerly Irish Water) for chemical discharges to the Ballymacraven River in Ennistymon, Co Clare in May 2023. At Ennis District Court on Friday 16 February, Uisce…

The Port of Waterford made history over the weekend as it handled a cargo of a record-breaking scale. The port received a vessel load of 80-metre-long wide-turbine blades, the largest ever in size to be imported to Ireland. The blades…

Minister for Enterprise Simon Coveney has said he intends to publish an offshore renewable energy (ORE) industrial strategy very shortly. A draft of the strategy was due to be presented to Cabinet this week, he told the third annual national…

There will be “no hierarchy” of access to Ireland’s sea areas under its new maritime licensing system, the head of the new Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) has said. MARA chief executive officer Laura Brien was speaking at the third…

A major new European project aims to improve our understanding of how the bycatch of fisheries impacts protected, endangered and threatened species (PETS) in the Atlantic Ocean, and develop methods for better monitoring and mitigating these impacts. Funded by the…

The owner of Lough Neagh’s lakebed has said he is “open to exploring options” amid reports of the return of toxic blue-green algae blooms. But as BBC News reports, the Earl of Shaftesbury has refused to budge on suggestions that…

A woman living on Cape Clear Island off the coast of West Cork was evacuated by the Baltimore RNLI on Wednesday night. The Irish Coast Guard had requested the medical evacuation, and the volunteer lifeboat crew launched their all-weather lifeboat…

EirGrid, the Irish company responsible for operating and developing the electricity grid and market, spoke at the National Maritime College of Ireland Seafarers' Conference 2024 today about its plans to connect offshore wind energy to the grid and its ongoing…

The ESB has announced the completion of an industry-endorsed marine mammal observer (MMO) training programme to support those in the early stages of their careers in the marine environmental sector. An additional key aim was to fill a gap in…

The owners of a former Dingle fish processing plant have received Brexit-related grant aid towards a 1.3 million euro visitor attraction, which recalls the harbour’s famous dolphin, Fungi. The Keane family, owners of Ó Catháin Iasc Teo, have invested over…

Suspension of the native oyster fishery in the Foyle area will continue for another month, with the closure extended until 6pm on Sunday 31 March. The Loughs Agency says it made the decision following an analysis of the latest stock…

The cost and impact of flooding influenced by climate change and environmental degradation is the focus of a new documentary due to be broadcast on TG4 this month. “Tuilte”, an hour-long documentary by Dearcán Media, examines just how vulnerable coastal…

RWE Renewables Ireland has appointed Vanessa O’Connell as its new Development Project Director for the Dublin Array offshore wind farm. Dublin Array is a proposed 824MW offshore wind farm, which will be located about 10 kilometres from the coast of…