Blue Ireland organisation formed to safeguard Ireland’s marine ecosystems and coastal communities

A coalition of local environmental groups across counties Louth, Wicklow, Wexford, Dublin and Galway, going by the name of Blue Ireland, has been formed to safeguard Ireland’s marine ecosystems and coastal communities as the country accelerates offshore wind energy developments.

For over 20 years, offshore wind farm projects have been proposed under outdated planning policies, targeting ecologically sensitive areas of Ireland’s coastlines.

Simply put: Wind turbines need to be placed where they do the least harm to sensitive marine ecosystems – not on the sites that have been chosen by developers with little or no consideration of the environmental implications.

Blue Ireland wants to be clear, they support renewable energy development but want it done right. 

A Blue Ireland spokesperson confirmed that their objectives align with those of the World Wildlife Fund, which states: “Offshore renewable infrastructure is still infrastructure. It needs to be subject to best-practice planning and design and requires rigorous evaluation using both environmental impact, assessments and strategic environmental assessments.”

Many sites targeted two decades ago, and referred to as legacy projects, are now controlled by foreign, privately owned entities. The first four projects listed below have applied for planning permission to An Bord Pleanála in the last few months. The final two are expected to apply before the end of the year. 

• Oriel Wind Park (Dundalk, Louth)
• Codling Wind Park, (Bray/Greystones/Wicklow) 
• Arklow Bank Wind Farm (South Wicklow/Wexford)
• North Irish Sea Array Ltd, (Skerries/Balbriggan, Dublin)
• Dublin Array (Bray and Kish Banks, South Dublin and Wicklow)
• Fuinneamh Sceirde Teoranta (Sceirde Rocks, Connemara, Galway)

Blue Ireland warns that Ireland risks repeating past mistakes with developer-led planning. The group cites alarming biodiversity losses, such as a 46% decline in Harbour Porpoise populations and continued threats to seabirds like puffins and kittiwakes.

Blue Ireland wants to ensure offshore renewable energy infrastructure is sited in environmentally appropriate locations and advocates for alignment with best international practices in marine planning. This will ensure the sustainable development of ocean resources while protecting marine ecosystems and biodiversity.

Flawed Planning and Oversight

In 2023, the Irish government acknowledged that developer-led planning was misguided but continues to push legacy projects that bypass key environmental considerations. Assessments commissioned and paid for by developers often lack objectivity and are not subject to independent scrutiny, leaving Ireland’s marine ecosystems at risk.

“Our seas are vital ecosystems that must be preserved for future generations,” said a spokesperson for Blue Ireland. “We are advocating for responsible, evidence-based development of offshore wind that does not come at the expense of biodiversity.”

The Call to Action

Blue Ireland urges the public, businesses, and policymakers to support its efforts to promote sustainable development and independent oversight of offshore wind projects. The group is focused on:

• Advocating for ecosystem-based Marine Spatial Planning
• Challenging flawed project approvals through legal and scientific channels
• Raising awareness of the urgent need for adoption and enforcement of Marine Protected Area (MPA) legislation

Blue Ireland is also asking the public to collaborate with them by providing support in key areas such as recognising the importance of biodiversity and marine protection, legal advocacy, scientific research, and political and regulatory action. Support is vital if we are to succeed in raising awareness of the risks to our coastlines and the protection of marine species and habitats.

Without stronger protections, Ireland’s marine environment faces irreparable harm. The recently published findings from ObSERVE 2 (a major scientific programme to improve knowledge and understanding of Ireland’s protected offshore species) highlight the critical importance of Ireland’s waters for seabirds, marine mammals, and other species. The lack of adherence to National and European regulations and weak legislation continue to undermine biodiversity conservation.

To learn more or get involved, visit https://blueireland.org/