Underwater scene in the Irish Sea of Thongweed and Snakelocks © Paul Naylor
Protecting wildlife in and around the Irish sea
Cumbria Wildlife Trust works in partnership with The North West Wildlife Trusts to protect our Irish sea and its wildlife.
How we've helped nature's recovery in the Irish sea
Cumbria Wildlife Trust works in partnership with The North West Wildlife Trusts to protect our Irish sea and its wildlife. The North West Wildlife Trusts helped to secure the Marine and Coastal Access Act.
My Local Catch was a marine awareness project based in Whitehaven, working with local fishermen using low-impact fishing methods, coastal communities, seafood suppliers, schools and youth groups, to raise awareness of the benefits of locally and sustainably-sourced seafood in the recovery of our seas.
The first three Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMA) sites in English waters were officially designated as HPMAs in England on 5 July 2023.
Action by The Wildlife Trusts and others has brought about the designation of 91 Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs), 10 of which are in the Irish Sea.
Our seas and their wildlife are an essential part of our daily lives; providing us with the oxygen for every second breath we take, fish for our plates and magical wild experiences that can stay with us for a lifetime. They're home to around half of all our wildlife, from microscopic creatures to the second largest fish in the world, the basking shark.