Aerial shot of two people creating a giant sea pen on a beach.
Giant sea pens © Cumbria Wildlife Trust

Cumbria Wildlife Trust

Irish Sea Marine Advocacy Programme

Hidden beneath the surface of the Irish Sea are landscapes every bit as varied as those we see on land, with undersea cliffs, caves, valleys and mountains which are home to thousands of plants and animals from tiny anemones to the majestic basking shark. 

For centuries our sea’s riches have been taken for granted. Fragile habitats have been destroyed. Pollution, unsustainable fishing and the effects of climate change have had major detrimental impacts on our marine environment. 

The Irish Sea Marine Advocacy Programme aims to restore the Irish Sea to a clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse sea through securing the designation and management of Marine Protected Areas within our Irish Sea.

For too long our Irish Sea has been taken for granted. The creation of a network of Marine Protected Areas offer us a once in a lifetime chance to designate special areas where the rare species and habitats of the Irish Sea are protected. A place where damaging activities can be restricted and wildlife is allowed to recover and flourish. 

The grant from Peter De Haan Charitable Trust in support of our Irish Sea Marine Advocacy Programme is vital in enabling us to raise awareness of the importance of our Irish Sea and to try and ensure that our marine wildlife gets the long overdue protection it deserves.

Peter Bullard, Director, Cumbria Wildlife Trust

A bird flying over the sea.
Manx shearwater © Amy Lewis
A brittle star bed.
Brittle star bed © Paul Naylor
Phosphorescent sea pen and dublin bay prawn.
Phosphorescent sea pen © Paul Naylor
Ocean quahog.
Ocean quahog © Paul Kay
Fireworks anemone and slender sea pens.
Fireworks anemone © Paul Naylor
A landscape of Allonby Bay Marine Conservation Zone.
Allonby Bay Marine Conservation Zone © Cumbria Wildlife Trust