A West Clare tourism operator says clarity is needed on what a marine protected area would mean for coastal regions in this county.
It follows a new report suggesting nearly a third of Irish waters should be designated as protected by 2030.
Ireland’s Marine Protected Areas must increase 18-fold by the end of the decade in order to restore critical habitats, safeguard wildlife and address the climate crisis.
That is according to a new report commissioned by the Fair Seas campaign, a coalition of Ireland’s leading environmental non-governmental organisations and networks.
Fair Seas is urging the Government to designate a minimum of 30% of Irish waters as Marine Protected Areas by 2030, up from the current figure of 2% which the group says is wholly inadequate.
Their report designates the waters between Loop Head and Kenmare in Kerry as ‘an area of interest’, primarily due to it being a breeding area for several threatened species of shark and other creatures.
Sibéal Regan, who’s Education and Outreach Officer with the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, based in Kilrush, says there would be huge benefits to designating the areas as protected.
However, the Chair of Loop Head Tourism says there needs to be further examination of what the move could mean for those using the seas for recreational purposes.
Luke Aston is concerned that communication on the proposal hasn’t been sufficient, and claims that the possible benefits of having a marine protected area in West Clare are ‘sketchy’ at the moment.
Listen back to the full interview here:
