Ireland's State of the Environment Report 2024

234 Chapter 9: The Marine Environment As one of the largest potential new uses of the maritime area, the development of offshore wind needs to be carefully considered across all organisations to clearly define how protection and development are to be managed and what appropriate development is, particularly in relation to protected areas. Marine fisheries The Common Fisheries Policy governs the fishing sector in Ireland. Irish fisheries data are combined with those from other countries through the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea to provide scientific assessments and advice establishing total allowable catches for fish stocks. A number of historical and recent measures have been developed under this policy to ensure that fishing and aquaculture are environmentally, economically and socially sustainable. Since 2014, the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy has led to the phased introduction of landing obligations for species subject to catch limits. Measures in place for Irish fisheries include a range of area closures, restrictions and technical measures to conserve stocks and the prohibition of bottom trawling in designated coral protection areas and in deep waters (BIM, 2023c). 7 Common Fisheries Policy, national and other measures are included in Ireland’s MSFD Programmes of Measures (DHLGH 2022). In 2023, as part of a ‘fisheries and ocean’ package, the European Commission published an EU action plan to protect and restore marine ecosystems for sustainable and resilient fisheries (EC, 2023). This aimed to ensure sustainable fishing practices so that fish stocks are fished at a sustainable level and the impacts of fishing on the seabed and on sensitive species are reduced. Actions include phasing out mobile bottom fishing gear in MPAs by 2030, increasing gear selectivity, supporting a just transition for fishers whose livelihoods are impacted by the measures, and strengthening knowledge, research, enforcement, governance and stakeholder involvement. 7 Below 400 m in other vulnerable marine ecosystem areas and below 800 m in deeper waters. 8 Examples of three blue carbon projects led by University College Dublin: Blue Carbon Group (www.ucd.ie/bluecarbon/home/) , BlueC (www.bluec.ie) and QUEST (Research Climate Data Table Dev | Environmental Protection Agency (epa.ie)) . 9 cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101093865 (accessed 2 May 2024). Aquaculture The European Commission (EC, 2021) set out its strategy to develop the potential of aquaculture as a source of food in a sustainable manner in line with the European Green Deal. The National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development 2030 was issued in October 2023 (DAFM, 2023). This aims to sustainably grow the aquaculture sector while ensuring the environmental protection of marine ecosystems and minimising the sector’s carbon footprint. The growth of the aquaculture sector must be considered in relation to its impact on marine environmental status under the WFD and MSFD and also on the qualifying interests of protected sites under the Nature Directives. Climate mitigation and adaptation The national Climate Action Plan 2024 (DECC, 2023) highlights ambitious marine-relevant climate change mitigation and adaptation targets. The Maritime Area Planning Act 2021 provides for a new national approach to marine planning. Measures developed under these policies need to be considered in the wider ecological context to ensure that maximum co-benefits can be achieved. For example, nature-based solutions can play a role in mitigation and adaptation planning, with the added co-benefits of protecting and restoring degraded ecosystems. Under the MSFD Programme of Measures, nature-based solutions have been identified as key to achieving MSFD targets. The role of coastal Irish ecosystems as a carbon sink, in particular seagrass beds and saltmarshes, is an area of active research 8,9 to better understand how conservation, management and restoration of these ecosystems could protect carbon stores and contribute to mitigation and adaptation measures. But they also need to be considered for their potential to mitigate nutrient enrichment and to enhance biodiversity. The development of a network of MPAs in Ireland’s marine areas will include provisions for the protection of ecosystem services such as those provided by ‘blue carbon’ habitats and climate-resilient features both in coastal areas and offshore.