Thread by @IrelandsEnviro

Straight into it this morning - 🧵on where we are with Ireland's new #MarineProtectedArea legislation and when we can expect it to become law 👇🌊🐟🦈🇮🇪
1/

2020
🐟Ireland's Programme for Government commits to ‘30% of marine protected areas by 2030…done on the basis of scientific expertise and in close consultation with all stakeholders’;

🐟MPA Advisory Group publish report ‘Expanding Ireland’s Network of MPAs’;
2/

2021
🐟Government consult on the MPA report and 2,311 public feedback responses are received;

🐟A summary of consultation responses is published indicating overwhelming support of MPAs and 30x30 targets (i.e., 30% of Irish waters as a MPA before 2030 #30x30);
3/

2022
🐟Heads of Bill for new MPA legislation gets Government approval to be drafted (Heads of Bill is important first step in legislative process);

🐟At National Biodiversity Conference @BiodCon_ie in June, Minister Noonan @noonan_malcolm states Heads of Bill is currently...
4/

being drafted and will be completed soon;

🐟At various stakeholder meetings, Government officials indicate the Heads of Bill will be published before Christmas;
5/

2023
🐟If this timelines stands then we might expect pre-legislative scrutiny by the @DeptHousingIRL Joint Committee early next year, followed by full legislative scrutiny & debate in the Dáil and Seanad;

🐟The new MPA bill, once passed through all the legislative stages...
6/

in the Oireachtas, will be signed off as Law by the Irish President @PresidentIRL 🥳

Post 2023
🐟This is when the real work will begin.

🐟The Government will need to progress a comprehensive stakeholder engagement process...
7/

to engage with local communities, business, industry, eNGOs and academia with the joint aim to select and designate sites, and also develop 🦀management plans 🦀conservation objectives and advice 🦀 monitoring regimes 🦀enforcement & governance protocols and procedures & more
8/

🐟All this will ensure that MPAs have the support of local communities and deliver the ecological and conservation aims of individual sites and that of the network 💪🌊❤️
9/

2030
🐟🇮🇪 achieves its 30x30 MPA targets having created an ecologically coherent, well-managed network of sites which are aiding the protection & recovery of our most important, special & vulnerable marine wildlife, habitats & ecosystems...well that’s the theory at least🤪
10/

Of course we will wait & see how the MPA legislation actually progresses - it may not go exactly along these lines (I'd be surprise if it did tbqh 😅) but what is certain, is that Ireland is at a defining moment in its history of how it uses and protect and restores its seas
11/

So please remember, at all times but especially for the next year while new law is being drafted, letting your local elected reps know you care for our seas and want to see them protected, is one of the strongest possible forms of #OceanAction an individual can take 💪🌊❤️🐳
12/

At the moment @FairSeasIreland is completely focused on ensuring the new MPA legislation is as strong as it can be - watch this space for more info on our MPA key asks soon!
13/

That's it for today folks! Before tomorrow's thread, and all this talk of #MarineProtectedAreas let's ask ourselves a question and ponder...how to we safeguard and restore the species, habitats, ecosystems *outside* of MPAs? 👀🇪🇺#MSFD
14/14

Bonus Tweet: pat on the back if you can name all three Irish Islands pictured in the thread 👆🌊❤️See y'all tomorrow!

Bonus Tweet Answer: The gorgeously wild Tory Island up top with the striking red bench. Second is an image from the impressive and homely Cape Clear Island, and third is a view from my favourite Irish Island - Inishtrahull
❤️❤️❤️