Report Shows All Irish Inshore Waters Will Be Under Pressure From Climate Change By The End Of This Century

Fair Seas research finds half of Irish waters are more resilient to effects of global warming A new report has been published by Fair Seas highlighting key Irish marine areas that can promote  biodiversity in the face of the impact of worsening climate change. The coalition of leading environmental NGOs and networks has commissioned research … Read more

SWAN and Environmental Pillar meets with Commissioner Sinkevičius and urges him to stay the course on Nitrates Derogation

The Sustainable Water Network (SWAN) and the Environmental Pillar at a meeting with Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius today urged him to stick with the decision to reduce Ireland’s derogation limit to 220 kg nitrogen per hectare. “We impressed upon Commissioner Sinkevičius that we have reached a critical point in tackling water quality in Ireland,” said An … Read more

Environmental Pillar and Sustainable Water Network urgently seeks meeting with Commissioner Sinkevičius on Nitrates Derogation

The Environmental Pillar and the Sustainable Water Network (SWAN) are urgently seeking a meeting with Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius to discuss Ireland’s Nitrates Derogation during his visit to Ireland on Nov 23rd. It is important that the Commissioner comes away from Ireland with a balanced and informed view of civil society’s attitude to the Commission’s position … Read more

Sustainable Water Network (SWAN) echoes criticism of Uisce Éireann for slow progress on halting sewage pollution.

The Sustainable Water Network (SWAN) has echoed the criticism by the EPA on Uisce Éireann’s slow pace on stopping sewage pollution, and the call on Uisce Éireann to “use its new investment plan to end pollution of our rivers and coastal waters from waste water” [1]. This follows the recent publication of a report from … Read more

Environmental NGOs Rebuke Government For Slow Progress On Key Ocean Protection Legislation

Fair Seas Coalition deliver 11,758 signature petition calling for urgent legislation A coalition of Ireland’s leading environmental NGOs has strongly criticised the government for failing to publish key legislation that would protect Irish seas and help tackle the twin climate and biodiversity crises. Presenting a petition of 11,758 signatures from Ireland to Minister of State … Read more

Three Quarters of People Believe Lack of Political Will is Biggest Threat to Ireland’s Marine Environment

Fair Seas has published the results of its first Ocean Literacy Survey which highlights that 76% of Irish people believe “lack of political will to protect or manage the ocean effectively” is the greatest threat to Ireland’s seas. Ocean literacy is the understanding of our individual and collective impact on the ocean and its impact on our … Read more

“The science and the law must be followed on nitrate pollution from agriculture”

Press Release: The Sustainable Water Network (SWAN), a network of 25 environmental organisations, has welcomed the European Commission’s decision to reduce the limits on organic nitrates use on certain farms in Ireland last week. However, they have warned against the continual lack of government leadership in planning for such changes, and failure to prepare and … Read more

Real Voices – Conversations with Fishers on Marine Protected Areas

Real Voices is a series of videos made by Fair Seas. The short videos are conversations with people that make their living from the sea and how they feel about Marine Protected Areas. From these videos, it is apparent that if they are managed properly, MPAs can benefit society, biodiversity, wildlife, fishers and local communities. … Read more

MPA Finance Report is first of its kind in Europe.

A coalition of leading environmental non-governmental organisations and networks has revealed that Ireland can save its ocean biodiversity by spending approximately €55 million between 2024 and 2030 to reach its targets of protecting 30% of our seas and ocean. Fair Seas has produced the first of its kind Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Finance Report in … Read more