Category Archives: Wildlife

Help stop badger culling in Ireland

By VOICE OFFICE | Published: November 23, 2011

Are you aware that your taxes are being used to pay 75 government staff to snare and kill badgers in Ireland? VOICE is asking you to support the Irish Wildlife Trust’s campaign to stop badger culling in Ireland.

The Irish Wildlife Trust (IWT) is opposed to badger culling and the use of snares. Not only is it barbaric and unethical, recent findings have shown it to be ineffective in the war on bovine TB. Badgers can die over extended periods struggling in these hideous devices while their young starve underground. Nobody has ever counted badgers accurately in this country and while it has always been assumed that they are common animals, this can no longer be taken for granted.

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127 Areas in the UK to be Proposed as Marine Conservation Zones

By VOICE OFFICE | Published: September 8, 2011

The UK appears to be following up on EU marine legislation with its proposal to designate 127 areas as Marine Conservation Zones.    According to the article excerpt from the Guardian below, it is expected that more than 37,000 sq km will be included in a list of protected areas. VOICE hopes that the Irish government will take similar steps soon to protect our marine wildlife and habitats.

127 areas to be proposed as English marine conservation zones

John Vidal, Environment Editor
The Guardian, Thursday 8 September 2011
Much of the sea around the Isle of Wight and the Isles of Scilly , major estuaries and islets off the east coast, as well as reefs, trenches, sandbars and remote places seldom seen by humans, are included in a list of 127 sea areas that have been proposed as new nature reserves.

The zones range from a giant 5,800 sq km (2,240 sq mile) patch on the edge of British territorial waters in the western Channel to a minute 0.09 sq km speck of rock off Dorset, from the sea floor below some of the busiest shipping lanes in the world in the Channel to the muddy waters off the northern Irish coast where Dublin Bay prawn thrives.

The total area expected to be named as new nationally important marine conservation zones (MCZs) is more than 37,000 sq km – about twice the size of Wales.

You can read the full article here.

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“Nature in the Urban Jungle” – ESAI Photo competition 2011

By VOICE OFFICE | Published: August 2, 2011


Are you interested in photography? The Environmental Sciences Association of Ireland is now inviting entries for the 6th ESAI photography competition.

This year’s theme for the competition is “Nature in the Urban Jungle” in celebration of the international Euroscience Open Forum Conference to be held in Dublin, City of Science 2012, from 11th – 15th July 2012. Entrants are encouraged to interpret the theme as they see fit.  All amateur photographers are welcome to participate, and entries will be judged on the basis of picture quality, composition and the appropriateness of the caption.

First prize includes a €250 voucher sponsored by the Environmental Research Institute, professional framing of the winning entry and one year membership of ESAI.

Two runners up will each receive a one year membership of ESAI.

Please download the entry form and terms and conditions here.  Closing date is Friday December 31st 2011 and the winner will be notified by email on Friday January 27th 2012.

Please visit the ESAI website for more details.

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CFP proposal falls short of ensuring sustainable fisheries

By VOICE OFFICE | Published: July 14, 2011

Below is a press release issued on 13th July 2011 by Seas at Risk in response to the European Commission’s proposals for reform of the Common Fisheries Policy.  Seas at Risk is a European association of environmental NGOs working to protect our marine environment, of which VOICE is a member.

As detailed below, the proposals show certain progress, for example, somewhat addressing the wasteful practice of returning unwanted caught fish to the oceans. However, the reform is too limited in relation to fishing quotas, and there are concerns over the Commission’s reliance on market-based approaches to halt overfishing.  Read on to find out more.

CFP proposal falls short of ensuring sustainable fisheries

 

 

Brussels, 13th July.The European Commission has today published its proposal for the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. After 2 years of consultations, the proposal contains valuable elements, but falls short of what is needed to ensure sustainable fisheries in the EU.The proposal includes internationally agreed targets for the recovery of fish stocks that could see the end of overfishing in EU waters, if it receives the support of the Council and the European Parliament. It also encourages higher selectivity and partially addresses the wasteful practice of discarding perfectly good fish at sea.However, the proposal fails to recognize the need for a healthy marine ecosystem as a prerequisite for viable fisheries and does not commit Member States to follow scientific advice when setting fishing opportunities.

Dr. Monica Verbeek, Executive Director of Seas At Risk said: “More ambitious management targets for stocks will only halt overfishing if Ministers are obliged to set fishing quotas based on the best available scientific advice. We can no longer afford to put fish stocks at risk with the annual horse trading of quotas.”  See the full press release.

Read the European Commission’s reform package.

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Irish MEPs vote for Fisheries Fuel Aid: Join the Fish Fight and Make Your Voice Heard!

By VOICE OFFICE | Published: May 24, 2011


While the rise in oil prices has been seen to spark a crisis in the fishing sector, a Pew Environment Group study found that most European Fisheries Fund management authorities did not ask for relevant information from Member States when making funding decisions.  Examples of important information not requested include details of target stocks, by-catch or discard, geographical area of fishing activity, or the history of compliance.  The study therefore concludes that the information requested by the application forms alone does generally not enable managing authorities to make informed decisions on the likely environmental and social impacts of Axis 1 projects.

The following ten Irish MEPs have recently voted in favour of doubling de minimis fisheries fuel aid:

[table id=11 /]

What can you do?

Ask your MEP to account for their position by sending them this letter which asks the following:

1.) What other information sources, such as the fleet registry, fishing licenses, compliance records etc. management authorities are used to inform funding decisions?

2)  If there are any other documents, apart from the application form, on which administrations compile information for their funding decision and if so, could they be shared with us?

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Rally for Environmental Justice

By VOICE OFFICE | Published: March 23, 2011

Young Friends of the Earth Ireland is holding a rally today outside the Dail at 13:30.

You have a chance to be part of the solution. Join the Rally For Environmental Justice at Dáil Eireann, Dublin City on Wednesday 1:30pm March 23rd. Bring your friends, put on some facepaints, bring drums, music, whatever! And come for drinks in the Pint bar after!

It’s our future. Let’s show that we’re willing to fight for it

Read More »

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Seas at Risk and Low Impact Fisheries

By VOICE OFFICE | Published: June 15, 2010

salmonBrussels, 8th June, 2010. A new report by Seas At Risk highlights a number of ways that fisheries across Europe can reduce their greenhouse gas emissions while simultaneously reducing their damaging impact on the marine environment. The report – titled ‘Moving Towards Low Impact Fisheries in Europe: Policy Hurdles & Actions’, undertaken by the independent fisheries consultancy MacAlister Elliott and Partners – finds that through changing the type of fishing gear, the fishing industry can decrease the damage it inflicts on marine ecosystems, reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and lower its fuel costs. Read More »

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