Coastal and Marine Environment:
Biodiversity, Management and Protection
13 October 2008
Background
Seventy percent of the Earth's surface is covered by oceans and seas and more than half the world's population lives within 60 km of the coast. We are reliant on our oceans and seas for many things, although most importantly for food, energy sources (wind power, oil and gas, etc) and tourism revenue. It is easy to see, therefore, how our health and the health of our planet depend, in no small part, on the condition of our oceans and seas.
This conference will look at the current state of biodiversity in the marine and coastal areas around Ireland and consider how best to protect and manage these areas in the future. The following topics will be covered:
- Marine Policy including the Water Framework Directive.
- Coastal habitats and their protection.
- Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM).
- Coastal bird populations.
- Coastal cetaceans.
- Coral reefs.
- Sponge communities.
- Pollution and biomonitoring.
- The final speaker of the day will provide information about the IEEM's Marine and Coastal Guidelines for Ecological Impact Assessment which are currently in production.
Programme
Download a PDF version of the conference programme here >>
08:30 Registration opens
09:25 Welcome
09:30 Keynote Address: the Marine Strategy Directive and its Implications for Protecting Marine Biodiversity
Speaker TBC
MORNING SESSION: COASTAL AND MARINE BIODIVERSITY AROUND IRELAND
09:50 Extent and Conservation Status of Coastal Habitats
Karen Gaynor (National Parks and Wildlife Service)
10:10 Trends in Coastal Bird Populations
Steve Newton (BirdWatch Ireland)
10:30 Cold Water Coral Reefs
Anthony Grehan (National University of Ireland, Galway)
10:50 Discussion
11.00 Break and posters
11:30 Sponge Communities of Rathlin Island Special Area of Conservation
Bernard Picton (Ulster Museum)
11:50 The Irish Whale & Dolphin Sanctuary - are Coastal Cetaceans Protected?
Simon Berrow (Irish Whale and Dolphin Group)
12:10 Discussion
12:20 IEEM Irish section AGM
13:00 Lunch
AFTERNOON SESSION: MANAGING AND PROTECTING COASTAL AND MARINE BIODIVERSITY
14:05 Implementation of the Water Framework Directive in Transitional Waters
Shane O'Boyle (Environmental Protection Agency)
14:25 Marine Policy - The Need for a Biodiversity Foundation
Melanie Gomes Marine Policy Officer (Northern Ireland Marine Task Force / Ulster Wildlife Trust)
14:45 Pollution as a Driver of Biodiversity Change: Impacts and Biomonitoring in Intertidal Habitats
Tasman Crowe (University College Dublin)
15:05 Discussion
15:15 Break and posters
15:45 Integrated Coastal Zone Management and Ecological Designations
Anne Marie O'Hagan (Coastal and Marine Resources Centre, University College Cork)
16:05 IEEM Guidelines for Ecological Impact Assessment in Britain and Ireland - Marine and Coastal
Mick Green CEnv MIEEM (Ecology Matters Ltd)
16:25 Discussion
16:40 Conference closes
Special Dietary Requirements
When booking, please advise us if you have any special dietary requirements.
Confirmation of Bookings
Bookings will be confirmed by email.
Accommodation
No accommodation is included in the delegate fee. For information on accommodation in Oranmore, please visit GoIreland's website http://www.goireland.com/galway/oranmore.htm.
Poster papers
Posters on a relevant topic are welcome, please contact Norma O'Hea (nmohea(at)yahoo.com) if you wish to submit a poster.
Conference Programme
This programme is correct at time of printing, but may be subject to change without notice.
Cancellation
In the event of cancellation, a 50% refund will be made if advised before 6 October 2008; no refunds after 6 October 2008. All cancellations must be received in writing. Substitutions can be made at any time.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Attendance at this conference counts towards the CPD requirements for IEEM members.