Ireland needs to spend €55m by 2030 to protect 30% of marine area - report

Ireland can help to save its ocean biodiversity by spending €55 million between next year and 2030 to reach a target of protecting 30 per cent of the country’s seas, a new report by Fair Seas has said.

Fair Seas, a coalition of environmental NGOs and networks, has set out the financial implications of scaling up marine protected areas (MPAs) to conserve and restore vital marine ecosystems.

Ireland is one of more than 190 countries committed to protecting or conserving at least 30 per cent of the planet’s land and ocean by 2030 – known as the 30x30 goal. Work is continuing on legislation to provide a statutory basis for the identification, designation and management of MPAs.

Cheaper and more effective

The report, published on Wednesday, estimates that of the €55 million needed to adequately fund MPA designation and continual management until 2030, some €7 million is required over the next 12 months to reach the target of fully protecting 10 per cent of Ireland’s ocean and seas.

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It says that full protection of the marine ecosystem would be cheaper, and more effective, than partial protection. The report sets out operating expenditure including staff salaries, scientific studies, boat fuel and maintenance as well as capital expenditure including boat and vehicle purchases, demarcation buoys, scuba diving equipment and surveillance equipment such as radar and drones.

It also assesses potential sources of funding ranging from European Union (EU) grants and philanthropic donations to revenue-generating mechanisms and potential reallocations of funding.

In a foreword, Valerie Hickey of the World Bank said marine biodiversity was essential “if we’re to have a world without poverty”.

“The ocean is threatened by overfishing, pollution and the destruction of coastal and deep-sea habitats. However, the good news is that we can rebuild fish stocks, protect critical natural habitats and reduce pollution levels,” she said.

Resurrect

“The report by Fair Seas is significant because we need to understand the capital and operating costs of establishing new protected areas of our ocean as well as identifying the menu of potential options to fill the funding gaps. When partners come together, the opportunities that emerge can resurrect a healthy ocean and pave the way for other countries to follow.”

Fair Seas campaign manager Aoife O’Mahony said: “We have a very short time frame ... it’s vital that all stakeholders work together.

“We need to be ambitious and act with urgency if we’re to protect our most valuable resource and combat not only the biodiversity crisis, but the climate crisis too. This report shows how a modest cost would reap considerable benefit for communities, the economy and nature.”