Irish marine areas that can promote biodiversity in the face of worsening climate change have been identified in a new report by Fair Seas, a coalition of leading environmental NGOs and networks. The report commissioned research to determine the areas of Ireland's marine environment that have the best chance of preserving ocean species and habitats for decades to come.

The research predicts that all Irish inshore waters will be under pressure from climate change by the end of the century. The report is expected to aid in the selection process for Marine Protected Areas (MPA) in Ireland. The long-awaited legislation is at an advanced stage of drafting and is due to be published in the coming weeks.

Rising sea temperatures can cause fish and other species found in Irish waters to move to cooler northern latitudes

According to ecologists, researchers, and data scientists from the Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML), over half of Irish waters host climate change sanctuaries, areas that are more resilient to the effects of climate change. The majority of these areas are offshore and overlap with sites previously identified as 'Areas of Interest' for MPA designation by Fair Seas.

Last year, marine heatwaves struck Ireland and other parts of the world, serving as a stark reminder of the effects of climate change. Rising sea temperatures can cause fish and other species found in Irish waters to move to cooler northern latitudes. Marine Protected Areas offer a significant opportunity to preserve biodiversity for future generations, and it is essential to carefully manage and monitor the areas showing the greatest resilience to these adverse effects.

The report, titled 'A Climate-resilient Path for Ireland's Marine Protected Areas,' is part of 'Revitalising Our Seas report: Identifying Areas of Interest for Marine Protected Area Designation in Irish Waters,' which Fair Seas published in June 2022. The new chapter was authored by Ana M. Queirós, Elizabeth Talbot, Susan Kay, Sevrine Sailley, and Jose A Fernandes. It is available to read on the Fair Seas website.

This work was supported by a Call for Knowledge as part of the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme Climate Change and Future Marine Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity (FutureMARES) and further supported by NERC/ESRC through the project Marine Spatial Planning Addressing Climate Effects.