European Union House, 18 Dawson Street, Dublin 2
9am – 3.30 pm, Thursday February 12th 2009
Aims:
- Inform about recent changes in coastal authorities and their responsibilities around the Irish coast.
- Provide information on EU Marine Ecolabel policy and a forum to discuss the Commission’s draft proposal.
- Consider sustainable and equitable use of our shared marine resources
- Discuss management of coastal Natura 2000 sites including cross border sites. The focus will be on estuaries, as particularly valuable, complex and threatened coastal areas
- Draft policy and action recommendations for wise coastal use.
This conference is to bring the many stakeholders in the coastal zone together to share information, learn about new EC and other member state initiatives and consider policy and action priorities for our shores in Ireland. The conference topics will includes:-
- ‘carrots’ like eco-labels, which are being developed by the EC and are now open for comment;
- ‘appropriate assessments’ for plans and actions which may impact on Natura 2000 sites;
- ‘sticks’ to prevent and halt inappropriate action;
- ‘shovels’ to restore, or dig penance holes …
The conference includes keynote addresses, short updates and case study presentations with panel discussion and workshop space to share experience and draft recommendations.
The papers and outcomes will be published electronically along with a paper summary of who is responsible for what where in the Irish coastal zone.
Registration: Please complete enclosed registration form and submit by post, mail or fax to Coastwatch. There will be no conference fee due to generous hosting by the EC offices Dublin and grant from the Department of the Environment. A fee of 20 euro (10 for unwaged/students) applies to cover papers, tea and coffee. Space is strictly limited and registration essential.
Further Info: on content: Karin Dubsky, Coastwatch, TCD, Dublin 2. T 086 8111 684, kdub...@coastwatch.org. On venue Barbara Mahon (01) 634 1110.
DRAFT PROGRAMME
Wed 11th Feb 2009: 7.00 pm Speaker prep meeting 8.00 pm Joint dinner for speakers and interested delegates – booking essential. Speakers and chairs as Coastwatch guests.
Thursday 12th Feb Our Coastal resources – value, protection and management.
European Union House, 18 Dawson Street, Dublin 2
9:00 Registration and materials
9.15 Opening
9.30 am Session 1 Food from the Sea
Eco labels for our coast – an overview including the draft European Commission proposal for organic seafood. Richard Bates, DG Mare, European Commission, Brussels.
10.00 Managing food resources from inshore areas: review of today, planning for tomorrow short input followed by discussion: Chair Jim Higgins MEP
Seafood policy and BIM role – BIM tbc
Native high value seafood: use, protection and management: today and tomorrow Shellfish focus. Paul McLaughlin, Paul O’Donovan, “Lough Foyle Oyster sub-Committee
Lobster focus: Martin Simpson, Dunmore East Lobster Cooperative tbc
Inshore fisheries AH?
11 00 Coffee
11.20 Session II: Who is Who in the Irish Coastal Zone?
Chair John Wilde Crosbie, barrister
Bullet form updates on recent and imminent changes in authorities and responsibilities
DoE – Foreshore Act, planning and protection
OPW – erosion and flood control
DAFF – sea fisheries, shellfish waters and aquaculture (any other?)
D communication energy offshore energy
D transport ports, dredging – tbc
Central Fisheries Board (responsible for oysters and salmon). Dr. Ciaran Byrne CFB tbc
Marine Institute research and advice – Terry Mc Mahon,tbc
Local authority role – Eamonn Hore, Director of Planning Wexford County Council
12. 00 Questions and Answers to speaker panel
12.30 pm Light Lunch
1. 00 pm Session III PROTECTION AND WISE USE OF coastal NATURA 2000 sites
Chair: Paul Cunningham RTE Environ Correspondent tbc
parallel Workshops: input statement on issues, Case studies presented and solution sought.
Workshop 1: Planned and ongoing activities in Natura 2000 sites – appropriate assessment. Input statement from NPWS Ciaran O Keefe tbc
Workshop 2: Rapid response to halt damage to protected sites and apt restoration, input statement from WEB tbc
2.00 pm Workshops present their findings
2.10 pm Cross border Scheldt estuary management, including Nature protection and appropriate assessments of plans and activities. Erika Van den Bergh, Research Inst for Nature & Forest, Belgium
2.45 pm Discussion: Our issues in international context.
3.00 pm Conclusions: Best practise for protecting Natura 2000 sites & sustainable use of resources. Karin Dubsky Coastwatch
3.15 pm Official Close.
Friends of the Irish Environment have sought to have Ireland brought before the European Court of Justice for the unlicensed storage of hazardous waste at Haulbowline Ireland.
