Living seawalls installed at Cobh in Cork harbour may provide a new habitat for marine life and improve water quality, according to a University College Cork (UCC) scientist.
The project is led by marine ecologist Dr Louise Firth, senior lecturer in environmental sustainability at UCC.
It is said to represent the first initiative of its kind in Ireland, adapting international best practice to Irish waters.
As Dr Firth explains, “Living Seawalls” are designed to transform traditional coastal infrastructure into habitat that supports marine life.
“Living Seawalls” are designed to transform traditional coastal infrastructure into a habitat that supports marine life
By adding modular panels and textured surfaces to an otherwise flat and inhospitable wall, the structures provide shelter and feeding opportunities for a wide range of species. Originally developed in Australia, the concept has been shown to encourage biodiversity and strengthen ecological resilience in urban marine environments, she says.
“By installing Living Seawalls in Cork, Ireland is joining a growing global network of coastal cities testing innovative ways to enhance biodiversity and resilience along our shores,” notes Dr Firth.
The Cobh installation will provide new habitat for algae, invertebrates, juvenile fish and other organisms, helping to increase species richness in the harbour and contributing to healthier food webs.
The structures can improve water quality through the growth of filter-feeding species and enhance shoreline stability by encouraging biological growth that binds surfaces together.
The project will be closely monitored by UCC researchers before and after installation, producing data on how well these techniques function in the temperate conditions of the south coast of Ireland. The results are expected to inform future approaches to coastal infrastructure and climate adaptation strategies nationwide.
Community engagement is at the heart of the project, UCC says. Local schools, community groups, and citizen scientists will be invited to take part in monitoring and educational activities, while the seawall itself doubles as a public resource that connects people with their marine environment.
UCC says the installation also brings together science, education, and art, creating a space where innovation, knowledge exchange, and creativity meet to reimagine how we live with the sea.
The project is being developed in collaboration with the Port of Cork and Research Ireland.
If successful, the Living Seawalls in Cork could serve as a model for similar projects across Ireland and beyond, showcasing how science, sustainability and engineering can work together to reimagine coastal infrastructure, UCC says.
Details of Dr Firth’s work and of her fellow marine scientists at UCC is on a new dedicated website.
