Tompot Blenny. Photo Nigel Motyer

The national lobster v-notching and tagging programme

The national lobster v-notching and tagging programme
3.3 maritime Greenpaper

Ireland places the environment centre stage of EU maritime policy

Ireland places the environment centre stage of EU maritime policy
Clew Bay, Co Mayo. Photo Shay Fennelly

Government fails to protect Ireland’s shellfish waters

Government fails to protect Ireland's shellfish waters

The skin boat tradition in Ireland

The skin boat tradition in Ireland
Mariner's Church, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin. Photo Eogan Ganley

Bright future for 19th century ‘mariners’ church

Bright future for 19th century ‘mariners’ church
Busting the myth that farmed salmon is full of dye

Myths and legends of aquaculture exploded!

Myths and legends of aquaculture exploded!
International crew in Genoa overtaking the Dutch team

Bantry Bay longboat for Cork City

Diarmaid Murphy, Atlantic Challenge

Meithal Mara, a city based organisation better known for exploits with currachs, is the most recent group to join the Atlantic Challenge Ireland family and is in the process of completing a longboat at their premises at Crosses Green, Cork.

The group intend to be on the water by June, in time for the ‘Ocean to City’ race when they will be up against other longboat crews from Bantry, Waterford and Antrim. In the meantime during the build, the crew will travel to Bantry and Waterford to gain valuable experience on board other longboats to learn the necessary skills to row and sail these dynamic vessels.

International crew in Genoa overtaking the Dutch team

 International crew in Genoa overtaking the Dutch team

2006 was a very busy and successful year for Atlantic Challenge Ireland, especially when the Bantry-based Irish crew were victorious in Genoa, Italy, winning the prestigious Atlantic Challenge International contest with style. There were sixteen boats in the contest with representatives from over twenty different countries.

Dune system at Maghercarty, Co Donegal, part of the demonstration programme. During the 1990s, the EU Commission embraced ICZM as an area requiring co-ordinated European action

Coastal zone management: dead or alive?

Coastal zone management: dead or alive?
Tompot Blenny. Photo Nigel Motyer

Why is marine biodiversity important?

Tompot Blenny. Photo Nigel Motyer

Bryan Deegan

When we look at the sea, it is usually hard to imagine what life is like and what species exist beneath the waves. We usually don't realise there is a whole different world down there, with its own mountains, valleys and animals, that only a few of us have seen and which remains largely unexplored. The Earth's tallest mountain, longest mountain range and deepest canyon are all found in the ocean.

The seas off Ireland are a fascinating world full of magical organisms from tiny microscopic plants, much smaller than the eye can see, to some of the world’s biggest animals. The variety of living things that exists in this soup of biological sea life is called marine biodiversity. Another aspect of marine biodiversity that is very important for long-term survival of a species is the different makeup of individuals within a species. This is called genetic diversity.