Conference on Marine Protected Areas – March 24

The Marine Group of the Environmental Pillar invites you to a

Marine Protected Areas Conference on March 24th 2014, 11.30 am – 5.30 pm

 Delivering a coherent network of Marine Protected Areas and using them as a tool in ecosystem-based fisheries management

kindly hosted by

 The EC representation in Ireland, European Union House, 18 Dawson St, Dublin 2

Conference Objectives:

  • To raise awareness of MPAs and their legal context in Marine law, especially the MSFD
  • To update: What is happening already in the EU and around the NWWRAC area
  • To explore what MPAs can deliver for fisheries and how
  • To discuss, through engagement with stakeholders, what next steps are required

Agenda
11.30 am         Registration and coffee
12.00 noon     Welcome address: Barbara Nolan, Head of European Commission Representation in Ireland
12.05 -1.10     Session 1: MPA’s – The Legal Framework
Chair:  Eugene Nixon Marine Institute Ireland MSFD  

  • Creation of a coherent network of MPAs in the Marine Strategy Framework Directive tbc
  • Opportunities for Ireland–Dr Anthony Grehan NUI Galway.
  • MPA in Northern Ireland and achieving MSFD goals–  Dr Joe Breen, NI Environment Agency
  • How most fragile marine site no trawl zones  work and legal frame Dr Jean-Luc Solandt, Senior Biodiversity Policy Officer, Marine Conservation Society, UK.        

1.10 – 2.10      Lunch break
2.10 – 3.30      Session 2:  MPAs as a Tool in Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management
Chair: Dr Paul Connolly, Director of Fisheries Ecosystems Advisory Services, Marine Institute, Galway

  • MPA’s – An international perspective – Dr Mark Dickey-Collas, International Council for the Exploration of the Seas.
  • MPA’s as a tool in ecosystem based fisheries management – Prof.  David Reid, Marine Institute.
  • NATURA and MPAs – An  Inshore fisheries perspective – Dr Oliver Tully, Marine Institute
  • The NWWRACs view on future direction for MPAs – fisheries rep tbc

3.30 – 4.00 Coffee break
4.00 – 4.50pm – Session 3: Panel discussion – The Way forward
Rep Inshore fisheries group, John Crudden European Anglers Alliance, Lurdes Brandão GEOTA, Dr Ed Fahy, fisheries author and Marine Group convener, Rep Irish government Dept of the Environment, Community & Local Government (Water Section, MSFD) and Dr Eamon Kelly, DAHG.
4.50pm – SUMMARY OF KEY PONTS FROM THE DAY Karin Dubsky Coastwatch  
5.00pm –DG MARE closing remarks tbc
 

Further information contact: Karin Dubsky, Coastwatch (kdubsky@coastwatch.org, 353 (0) 86 8111 684

Steering Group: Dr. Paul Connolly, Marine Inst, Johnny Woodlock Irish Seal Sanctuary, Siobhan Egan BirdWatch Ireland,  Karin Dubsky Coastwatch

Support by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is gratefully acknowledged. Organisers and speakers are proving their time and expertise gratis.