Fair Seas World Ocean Day Conference 2026
Did you know the “real map of Ireland” when you take in its marine territory is 10x the size of the land?
I was MC for the
Fair Seas World Ocean Week Conference in City Hall, Cork and here is a summary of insights:
“The sea is part of who we are”
Fergal Dennehy, Cork Lord Mayor
“We need to have a national conversation about ocean stewardship”
Dónal Griffin
“We’re dealing with the triple challenge of pollution, biodiversity loss and climate change” Minister
Timmy Dooley
“What happens on the surface of the sea affects what happens underneath”
Micheál Martin, An Taoiseach
“The ocean shields humanity from the worst of climate change. We need to discuss how to use public funding in a more catalytic way while de-risking… and considering who you’re de-risking for along a spectrum of economic viability to investability”
Minna Epps
“MPAs need to be co-managed with local stakeholders while being resourced effectively with regular monitoring”
Belinda Bramley
“Enforcement can turn to compliance via education”
Adriano Quintela
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned in 30 years, it’s enforcement, enforcement, enforcement”
Zafer Kizilkaya
“Engage in participatory mapping and you can scenario analyse from there”
Will McClintock
“To those of you in a position to change things, will you fuel it with procrastination or direction?” Sean Ronayne
“Marine spatial planning is a combination of offshore renewable energy, fisheries and MPAs that are in the right place”
Grace Carr
“There are 11 work packages in operation relating to MPAs from July 2024 to Jun 2033”, Oliver O’Cadhla
“There needs to be co-design, co-creation and co-management of MPAs with stakeholders”, John Lynch
“The role of an active government is huge when it comes to releasing capital to underpin that the strategies that can make a difference”
Robert Walsh
“Finders become minders”,
Karin Dubsky
“There is huge insight in civil society and skills aren’t just formed in universities”, Louise Overy
“You can do things fast, or you can do things well.”
Patricia Comiskey
“Funding projects only achieves so much. It’s the institutional knowledge and relationships with people that make the real difference”
Máire Éinniú
“For an island nation, we can be sea blind and tone deaf. If you want to go fast, go alone and if you want to go far, go together”
Brendan Curtin
“We may not have legislation in place by six months, but we can achieve a lot in three years” Dr.
Micheal o Cinneide
Thank you to
Aoife O' Mahony,
Dónal Griffin and
Iseult Cambay for the wonderful opportunity to work with you and to
Margaret O' Regan and
Jenny O' Flynn for your thorough professionalism at every turn.
hashtag
