Ireland has agreed to join the European Union and 14 other countries to set up a Marine Protected Area in the North Atlantic.
The North Atlantic Current and Evlanov Sea Basin Marine Protected Area (NACES MPA) covers 595,196 square km/225,942 square miles and will help protect seabirds in that region.
Up to five million seabirds across 22 different species — among them five that are threatened — call this area home.
According to Irish Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan:
“The designation today of the North Atlantic Current and Evlanov Sea basin Marine Protected Area, covering an area over eight times the size of Ireland, is a really positive development in the future protection of seabirds and biodiversity. Ireland will play a lead role in protecting this area, at the same time as we work towards creating a network of Marine Protected Areas to 30% of our maritime area by 2030.”
Read more about the agreement.
(Featured in Image: Feargal O Coigligh, Sarah Farrell, Minister of State for Heritage Malcolm Noonan TD, Richard Cronin, Oliver O Cadhla, Sorcha NÃ Longphuirt; Credit: Irish Government)
