Exploring the Ocean | Free Marine Lesson Plans for Primary Schools
The Marine Institute’s Explorers Education Programme has published a series of new freely downloadable lesson plans, resources and a guide for primary…
Environment & Conservation
Will Discovery of Superbugs in Bathing Water force the hand of Infrastructure-Resistant Politicians?
The discovery of superbug enzymes in our bathing seawater is a seriously concerning development but one that is hardly surprising. The paths of…
Injured Loggerhead Turtle Rescued from Tralee Bay
An injured turtle has been rescued from Tralee Bay near Fenit. The large loggerhead turtle was discovered by Jonathan Lynch and his family who…
Pilot Whale, Gannets and Seagulls found dead on Stradbally Beach, Kerry
The beautiful Stradbally beach near Castlegregory, Co Kerry was littered with some unpleasant sights this weekend with a pilot whale and a large number of gannets…
On Skelligs, Bad Weather and Gravitational Force Awakens a Major Rockfall
A major rockfall has occurred on Skellig Michael this week making it unclear whether the island will be ready to open for…
Great Barrier Reef reaches Breaking Point as Coral Bleaching Devastates
New aerial surveys have shown the extent of the damage to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and it’s not looking good. Over two…
First Humpback Whale Spotted off Cork as Whale Season Kicks off
The first humpback whale of the 2017 whale season was spotted yesterday afternoon off the Beara Peninsula. Ireland is lucky to have…
Circular Ocean Workshop in Cork to Tackle the Challenge of Marine Plastics
As part of the award-winning transnational European Circular Ocean project, Irish Partners Cork County Council Initiative “Macroom E” welcomed delegates from Norway,…
Locals Rescue Four Common Dolphins Stranded in Cloghane Estuary
Four common dolphins that stranded up the Cloghane Estuary, Co. Kerry were successfully re-floated by a team of locals and staff from Dingle…
Join the Booterstown Spring Clean Up with An Taisce | Sunday 23rd April
As part of their annual Spring Clean Up An Taisce will be running a clean up of the marsh on Sunday 23rd April. The…
CHERISH Project will Defend Irish Sea Heritage and Marine Environment
The CHERISH project was officially launched yesterday morning by Minister of State Seán Kyne in the Commissioners of Irish Lights Headquarters in Dun…
Community Outcry over Plans to Harvest Kelp Forest in Bantry Bay
Concerns have been raised over plans to commercially harvest kelp seaweed from Bantry Bay. Local residents, fishermen and environmentalists were shocked to…
Public Consultation | Ireland steps toward Environmentally Sustainable Economy
A public consultation on Ireland’s first National Mitigation Plan has been launched and your opinion is needed. The development of Ireland’s first statutory National…
Bioluminescent Sea Sparkle in Tasmanian Waters Amazes Locals
An unusual phenomenon has left locals gobsmacked as bioluminescent algae turned the sea at Tasmania’s Preservation Bay sparkling bright blue. Noctiluca scintillans…
€6.7m EU boost to improve bathing waters in Ireland and Wales
A €6.7m EU-backed initiative to combat the effects of pollution on bathing waters in Wales and Ireland has been announced by Minister…
Kilkee Beach Swimming Ban could be lifted in time for Summer
Irish Water said that repair and upgrade works at Kilkee Wastewater Pumping Station needed to lift the ongoing swimming ban should be completed…
Balls of Black Tar wash up on Keel Beach, Achill Island
Balls of black tar have been found washed up on Keel Beach on Achill Island. The black sticky balls of tar washed…
Over 5400 People with Private Water Supplies on Boil Water Notices
Over ninety private water supplies, affecting over 5,400 people, are on boil water notices according to the EPA. One fifth of the population, mostly in…
€7m EU Funding to Investigate Climate Change Dangers to Fish in Irish Sea
More than €7 million in EU funding has been given out to researchers investigating the risks posed by climate change on the…
Coastal erosion unearths toxic waste at Bray beach
Decades old waste is coming back to haunt the east coast as erosion along a 200m stretch of Bray shoreline has revealed toxic waste…
Irish Waters a Whale and Dolphin Sanctuary? Technically, Yes.
2017 is the worst year on record for cetacean strandings in Ireland according to new figures released by the Irish Whale and…
Waste Water Treatment Upgrade Failures means EU Court Date for Ireland
The European Commission is taking Ireland to the EU Court of Justice for its failure to ensure that waste water at treatment…
Dog walkers beware | Dangerous ‘Palm Oil Fatbergs’ washes up on East Coast
Fingal County Council has issued a warning for people to be vigilant of ‘Palm Oil Fatbergs’ when out walking on the coast. …
Have Your Say | Public Consultation on Proposal to Ban Microbeads
A public consultation has opened on a proposed ban on products containing plastic microbeads. The process will last 6 weeks and closes on 24th March…
Blue Sea Thinking | Underwater Egyptian Garden creates new Coral Reefs
A group of divers in Egypt are creating something amazing beneath the waves with hopes to encourage and grow brand new coral reefs….
Rare Auld Find! Exotic Slipper Lobster found off Galway Coast
A local skipper knew he came across something special when he landed this rare and exotic Slipper Lobster while fishing off the…
Over 400 whales in mass stranding on New Zealand beach
Over 400 pilot whales have beached themselves on the shores of Farewell Spit on the South Island, New Zealand in one of…
Five pieces of litter for every step you take on Northern Ireland beaches
You can count on average five pieces of marine litter every step you take on Northern Ireland beaches – that’s according to…
Coastal Opportunities | North Bull Island Volunteer Programme
Love nature, wildlife and the great outdoors? This could be just for you! Dublin City Council are seeking a number of volunteers to join…
Coastal Opportunities | 100 Volunteers wanted for Rathlin Island Seabird Centre
Do you dream of escaping the rat race? Fancy living and working on Rathlin Island – Northern Ireland’s only inhabited offshore island?…
On Kerry’s River Laune, restoring salmon stocks requires long term effort
Kerry’s River Laune is a picturesque place for angling with its grassy-banked watercourse well known for great salmon. But an unremitting decline…
Invasion of the blue blubber jellyfish! Australian beach draws unusual crowd
Locals of Queensland’s Deception Bay in Australia witnessed a rare and mesmerizing sight as thousands of blue blubber jellyfish washed up on…
Hungry Hungry Trawler | Super Trawler Dirk Dirk arrives off Mayo
The Supertrawler Dirk Dirk (yep, that’s really its name) has arrived off Mayo. The 95 metre factory ship, sailing under a Dutch…
Glass Beach | Soviet dumping site becomes unlikely tourist attraction
A former dumping site of glass bottles in Russia has become an extremely unlikely tourist attraction. ‘Glass Beach’ on Ussuri Bay was…
Saving the Curlew | New curlew taskforce set up to save our iconic bird
Things may be looking up for Ireland’s curlew, a bird perched precariously on the edge of extinction, as Minister Humphreys announces a new…
European Commission to investigate Dublin Bay dumping
The European Commission (EC) is set to carry out a preliminary investigation into dumping that occurred in Dublin Bay last year. The…
Europe’s first underwater gallery opens below the waves of Lanzarote
Here’s one for the bucket list – Europe’s first underwater gallery has just opened this month off the coast of Lanzarote. It’s…
Adidas solidify environmental credentials with dissolvable shoes
It’s easy to knock those big corporations. Especially when you find out about some dodgy tax dealing on the news, or a nefarious…
Dramatic dune erosion continues at Donegal’s popular Lagg beach
Lagg beach has seen dramatic erosion of its dunes over the last year. The popular beach in Donegal hosts some of the…
EU’s Red List reveals pollution and fishing as main marine habitat pressures
The first ever European Red List of marine habitats has been published. Using a modified version of the IUCN Red List of…