NI sea-life continues to take a battering

Northern Ireland's native marine species and habitats are still at risk from poor management, often despite Government protection, according to WWF's Marine Health Check 05.

Horse mussel beds, once widespread in Strangford Lough, and Atlantic salmon are two of the 16 'flagship' species and habitats used as indicators in the report which monitors the state of UK seas over the past five years. Of these 16 species and habitats investigated, 13 are in decline.

The horse mussel beds in Strangford Lough were one of the main reasons for its designation as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), as they create a habitat for around 100 other species. Despite this protection, a recent survey carried out in Strangford has shown a 3.7 square kilometre loss of these beds since 1993 and identified disturbance by mobile fishing gear as the most likely cause of the initial damage. Strangford is also one of only three Marine Nature Reserves in the UK.

Malachy Campbell, Policy Officer at WWF Northern Ireland, said: "The situation in Strangford is indicative of how our seas are being mismanaged. Only five years ago, the first Marine Health Check was released and unfortunately things do not appear to have improved since then. In fact they seem to have gotten worse.

“WWF believes that a UK Marine Act is the only real solution to the crisis in our seas and is preparing a draft UK marine bill, including a section specifically dealing with Northern Ireland legislation, which should provide the basis for any new UK wide legislation.”

Northern Ireland's marine legislation, like the rest of the UK, has been developed on a sectoral basis, resulting in disjointed management and inappropriate planning of the sea environment.

WWF Northern Ireland is currently campaigning for strategic spatial planning and an ecosystem approach to management to be at the heart of a new UK Marine Bill.

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