State of the Seas report
Date published:
The production of this report is a major milestone both in terms of initiating implementation of the new legislation and in strengthening relationships between Agencies and Departments. All Northern Ireland Departments and Agencies with marine responsibilities will continue to build on this co-operation in the monitoring and management of our marine environment.
DOE worked in partnership with the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) to produce the NI State of the Seas Report. This is the first time that a comprehensive report on the state of the seas around Northern Ireland has been published.
This is a key time in the management of our marine environment with the introduction of 3 new pieces of legislation:
- EC Marine Strategy Framework Directive, 2008
- UK Marine and Coastal Access Act, 2009
- the proposed Northern Ireland Marine Bill, which was introduced to the NI Assembly in 2011
The report is largely structured around the new requirements of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, although other aspects of the marine environment are also considered.
Documents
- State of the Seas report - contents, Minister's forewords and executive summary
- State of the Seas report - introduction
- State of the Seas report - marine biodiversity
- State of the Seas report - invasive alien species
- State of the Seas report - fisheries and aquaculture
- State of the Seas report - marine food webs
- State of the Seas report - eutrophication
- State of the Seas report - seabed integrity
- State of the Seas report - hydrographical conditions
- State of the Seas report - contaminants
- State of the Seas report - contaminants in biota
- State of the Seas report - litter
- State of the Seas report - energy and underwater noise
- State of the Seas report - maritime archaeology
- State of the Seas report - bathing water quality
- State of the Seas report - ports and harbours
- State of the Seas report - discussions and conclusions
- State of the Seas report - appendices