Plans have been announced for the development of an action plan to protect and restore Northern Ireland's blue carbon habitats.

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs will bring forward the action plan.

DAERA Minister Edwin Poots confirmed his intention for the plan during an Oral Statement in the NI Assembly.

"The Northern Ireland marine area is 6,855km2 and represents approximately one third of our natural environment," Minister Poots said. "The coast, and the seas around it, include highly productive and biologically diverse ecosystems. Our marine natural capital and the ecosystem services it provides support tourism, recreation, aquaculture and fisheries and this Blue economy is an important component of our Northern Ireland economy.

"The importance of blue carbon habitats and their contribution to climate change adaptation and mitigation is now globally recognised. Therefore, our blue carbon habitats need to be protected as when they are degraded or damaged, their carbon sink capacity is lost and the stored carbon is released. By acting now and developing a blue carbon action plan, we can take steps to help protect and restore blue carbon habitats in the Northern Ireland marine and coastal environment.

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"In Northern Ireland, work has already commenced to create, protect and restore these habitats. In 2020-21, my Department provided funding of £27,000 to Ulster Wildlife to undertake a feasibility study for blue carbon habitat restoration in NI and over £400,000 has been invested in a 3-D coastal survey of the whole of the Northern Ireland coast line. The legislation that is being introduced to manage fishing activities in the inshore marine protected area network will also help to provide protection for important blue carbon habitats, such as seagrass beds in Waterfoot Marine Conservation Zone and Skerries and Causeway Special Area of Conversation, and maerl habitat in Red Bay and The Maidens Special Areas of Conservation."

The Minister concluded: "It is vital that we recognise the importance of these habitats. We therefore must now move forward together to develop a Blue Carbon Action Plan to continue to protect and restore this valuable natural capital asset. My Department will work together with other Government Departments, research institutes, the fishing industry, the renewable energy sector, environmental NGOs and other interested stakeholders to develop innovative solutions that are consistent with the vision of the NI Executive's Green Growth Strategy."