Christina Kelly UK-Ireland Planning Research Conference September 2014

Introduction Christina Kelly School of Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering Queen’s University Belfast Co-researchers: Professor Geraint Ellis and Dr Wesley Flannery

Estuarine & Coastal Ecosystems  Characteristics – physico-chemical, biological  Historical significance – navigation, ports  Uses – food, aggregates, reclamation, flood relief  Human Activities – fishing, aquaculture, dredging and disposal, renewables, transportation, infrastructure, tourism  Pressures & Impacts

Estuarine Management in Ireland  Complex issues – water quality, biodiversity, spatial management and resource use  Inter-jurisdictional, political and administrative challenges  Mainly a sectoral/ fragmented approach – no integrated environmental management (IEM)  No national policy for Integrated Estuarine/Coastal Management/ MSP in Ireland  No similar National Estuary Program (USA) or Estuaries Initiative (UK)  No dedicated marine agency or ‘one-stop’ shop

Draft Foreshore Bill 2013 Acronyms: DCENR – Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources DECLG - Department of Environment, Community and Local Government DAFM – Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine ABP – An Bord Pleanála EPA – Environment Protection Agency OPW – Office of Public Works EIA – Environmental Impact Assessment AA – Appropriate Assessment Foreshore Bill (Draft) - General Scheme of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013

Emerging Principles of IEM  Sustainability  Inter-relationship and integration  Environmental justice  Equitable access to environmental resources  Holistic decision-making  Informed decision-making  Principle of the right to develop  Environmental safeguards  Precautionary principle  Polluter pays principle  Stakeholder engagement  Transparency principle and other process-oriented principles  Adaptive  Continual Improvement

Spatial Integration Integrated Environmental Management Organisational Integration Sectoral Integration Informed decision- making Principle of the right to develop Holistic decision- making Environmental safeguards Precautionary principle Polluter pays Stakeholder engagement Transparency Inter - relationship & integration Environmental justice Equitable access Adaptive Continual improvement Sustainability Supporting IEM principles

Case Study areas  Shannon Estuary  Liffey Estuary/ Dublin Bay

Preliminary Integrated Concepts  Sustainable Development  Ecosystem based approach  Integrated Coastal Zone Management  Marine Spatial Planning

Next Stage - Empirical Research  Pilot a Normative Model in the Liffey/ Dublin Bay and Shannon Estuary Regions  Stakeholder Engagement  SWOT Analysis  Review of International Estuary Programmes i.e. Chesapeake Bay, USA and Severn Estuary, UK  Refining the EMMS model for Irish Context  EMMS plan template

Thank you Any Questions Funding: EPA and Department of Environment, Community and Local Government