Outdated legislation must precede approval of 145 turbine wind farm off Dublin coast Coastal Concern Alliance
Coastal Concern Alliance
The application by developers for a foreshore lease for construction of a large-scale wind farm, ‘Dublin Array’ in Dublin Bay and off Wicklow should not be assessed until the outdated legislation governing construction at sea is updated and a Marine Spatial Plan is introduced to balance competing interest in our seas.
The democratic deficit inherent in the management of our coastal waters under the Foreshore Act, 1933, has long been recognised and reform has been talked of for many years. These reforms, deemed necessary by Government, are currently under way.
Photomontage by ModelWorks Media.
The Background
The Foreshore Act, 1933, gives sole authority to one Minister to issue foreshore licences (for exploration) and leases (for construction) in Irish waters. While the legislation requires that decisions be made ‘in the public interest’, over the past decade the absence of coastal and marine spatial planning, coupled with outdated legislation governing construction at sea, has enabled offshore wind farm developers to lay claim to large stretches of valuable near-shore Irish east coast waters without proper public scrutiny.
PISCES project puts spotlight on stakeholder input
Sarah Twomey & Cathal O'Mahony CMRC
Increasing attention is now being given to the potential of our marine resources to provide badly needed economic stimuli; this however will throw up the familiar challenge of sustainability which involves balancing development and use of the marine environment with the safeguarding of its ecological value.
The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) sets out the environmental priorities of Europe’s maritime policy, requiring Member States to put in place a process to achieve good environmental status (GES) for their marine waters by 2020, while also calling for countries to apply the ecosystem -approach to managing human activities at sea.
Harbour porpoises under threat from seismic survey in Killiney Bay
Dublin Bay has the highest harbour porpoise density in Ireland. Photo Gillian Mills/Inshore Ireland
Shay Fennelly
Harbour porpoises in Dublin Bay could be significantly disturbed by a seismic survey planned later this month. Dublin Bay has the highest harbour porpoise density in Ireland (see sidebar)
A foreshore licence was granted to Providence Resources on September 27 to undertake site investigations and to drill an exploration well in the Kish Bank Basin. The site investigations include a 2D seismic survey of the Dalkey Island prospect which would take about 15 days, followed by 30-60 days of drilling from December.
The Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) submitted by Providence Resources is deficient as it did not assess the footprint of the seismic survey.
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Guest Writer
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Guest Writer2012-10-18 14:05:472019-02-14 09:27:32Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth – the journey begins!
Conference looks to technology to get more from marine resources
Businesses and researchers developing technology solutions for the marine sector will have greater opportunities to test their innovations in an ocean environment following the launch of SmartBay Ireland – a not-for-profit company.
Photo Prof. Fiona Regan, DCU presents Dr Mike Hartnett, NUIG with the SmartBay Research Innovator Award.
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Guest Writer2012-09-03 22:16:522019-02-14 09:23:32Marine biomass to play major role in supplementing world energy requirements?…
Looking to the United States for innovation and cluster development initiatives
Dr Valerie Cummins has returned to Ireland following a seven-week programme in the U.S. to investigate ways to improve the maritime economy of Ireland. Dr Cummins was sponsored by the prestigious U.S. Eisenhower Fellowships programme, chaired by General Colin L. Powell, U.S.A (Ret).
Dr Valerie Cummins with General Colin Powell
An expert in maritime development, coastal zone management, and sustainability science, Dr Cummins directs IMERC – the Irish Maritime and Energy Resource Cluster. IMERC unites Ireland's largest maritime institutions – University College Cork; the Cork Institute of Technology, (including the National Maritime College of Ireland) and the Irish Naval Service – to establish Ireland as a leader in marine energy and maritime industries.
Summer of marine science & technology
Lisa Fitzpatrick, Marine Institute
All eyes will be on Irish marine science this summer during two prominent events. The first will be held in Galway at the Ocean Wealth Showcase in the Volvo Ocean Race Global Village, June 30-July 8. The second takes place the following week at the European Science Open Forum (ESOF) 2012, Convention Centre Dublin from July 11-15.
Dr Peter Heffernan; David Fahy, ESOF; Minister Simon Coveney; Ciara Backwell, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny; Jim Fennell, and Lydie Dieval
The Ocean Wealth Showcase opens with fun activities for the family scheduled for the weekend. The focus then shifts to marine information and communications technology (ICT) and how we can get the most from our marine resource through marine technology.
Taoiseach’s support for new marine plan seen as strong political statement
HARNESSING OUR OCEAN WEALTH, the government’s much-anticipated Integrated Marine Plan has been unveiled by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny who says that no effort will be spared implementing it.
Subtitled a roadmap ‘for integrated actions’ the plan expects to see Ireland, for the first time, evolve ‘a system of policy and programme planning’ for its maritime affairs. Nevertheless, it cautions that it will have to be achieved ‘within the over-riding medium term fiscal framework and budgetary targets adopted by the Government’.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny launches Harnessing our Ocean Wealth. Photo Dave Ruffles
The plan sets the ambitious twin target to increase the turnover from Ireland’s ocean economy to more than €6.4bn by 2020, and to double the value of its ocean wealth to 2.4% of GDP by 2030.