Join us for World Ocean Day
Find below a calendar of all Clean Coasts events this 8th June
On 8th June, we celebrate World Ocean Day, a day when people everywhere can celebrate and take action for our ocean.
The 2021 Conservation Action Focus is 30×30: “Protecting at least 30% of our blue planet for a healthy ocean and climate”
Have your say this World Ocean Day. The Public Consultation on the expert advisory group report entitled “Expanding Ireland’s Marine Protected Area Network”, is currently open. The consultation is an open invitation for your views on area-based conservation and environmental protection in your seas and ocean, now and into the future. Among other things, it is asking you and all interested participants: What components of Ireland’s marine environment should be protected, Why they should be protected and How they should be protected. Its results, based on the responses and views received, will help to pave the way forward in designing the process for expanding Ireland’s MPA network, underpinned by new legislation that is fit for purpose.
The public consultation material, including a PDF copy of the report and an Online Survey to submit your views and opinions, is available in both Irish and English through the following webpages, respectively:
Public Participation in Irish / Public Participation in English
The consultation will close at 5pm on Friday 30 July 2021.
How is Clean Coasts celebrating World Ocean Day?
This June 8th, we have a lot of fun activities planned, which will help you learn more about our ocean, what ways we have to protect it and how to enjoy it.
On the right, there is a calendar of all our activities. Click on the event titles to find out more about each event and how to join us.
9 am – Dive into World Ocean Day
Jump into this World Ocean Day with A Virtual Dive Through a Rocky Reef in Strangford Lough
This virtual dive will take you on an underwater journey at the seabed of Strangford Lough! Strangford Lough supports diverse and colourful marine species communities for which it is designated as a Marine Conservation Zone and we want to explore it with you! You will be buddied up with a local marine biologist who will explain the critters and different habitats you come across during the dives.
This is a free, online virtual experience
Duration: 20 minutes
How to join: Premiering on Clean Coasts’ YouTube Channel – click on the video below to set a reminder/watch the video.
Watch it live on our YouTube channel in
10 am – Virtual Rockpooling with Dave Wall
Virtual Rock Pooling session with Biodiversity Ireland’s Dave Wall
Join expert marine biologist Dave Wall from National Biodiversity Centre on a Virtual Rocky Shore Safari to encounter some of the common species found on Ireland’s Rocky Shores.
This is a free, online virtual experience
Duration: 41 minutes
How to join: Premiering on Clean Coasts’ YouTube Channel – click on the video below to set a reminder/watch the video.
Watch it live on our YouTube channel in
11 am – “50 Things to do by the Sea” chat with Dr. Easkey Britton
A chat with Dr. Easkey Britton author of newly published “50 things to do by the sea”
Join Clean Coasts as we have the absolute pleasure to talk to Dr. Easkey Britton about her newly released book and all the benefits of spending time by the sea. Easkey is a world renowned surfer and highly acclaimed researcher in social science. Having spent a lifetime by the sea, join us live on Instagram to hear a reading from her book, how this book came about and how the sea has shaped her life.
This is a free, online virtual experience.
Duration: 25 minutes
How to join: Live on Clean Coasts Instagram. Find us HERE.
Join us on Instagram Live in
1 pm – ‘Expanding Ireland’s Marine Protected Area network’ with Prof. Tasman Crowe
A chat with Prof. Tasman Crowe about ‘Expanding Ireland’s Marine Protected Area network’
We all have the unique opportunity now to engage in what parts of our ocean we want to be protected. During this discussion, Chair of the Marine protected Areas Advisory Group, Prof. Tasman Crowe will explain what marine protected areas are, the benefits of them and how we all can get involved in stating what parts are most important to us and the environment. There will be a Q&A session so have your questions at the ready.
This is a free, online virtual experience.
Duration: 30-40 minutes
How to join: Register your spot on Eventbrite and you will receive a link to join us on Zoom.
Join us on Zoom in
3pm – Virtual Seaweed Harvesting with Prannie Rhatigan
Virtual Seaweed Harvesting with Prannie Rhatigan
Seaweeds are amazingly nourishing foods and available along our beautiful coastline. Join Prannie Rhatigan who is a medical doctor with a lifetime experience of harvesting, cooking and gardening organically with sea vegetables. Learn how to sustainably harvest and identify Irish seaweeds in a safe manner that can then be used for cooking in your kitchen, adding flavour and nourishment to dishes.
This is a free, online virtual experience
Duration: 10 minutes
How to join: Premiering on Clean Coasts’ YouTube Channel – click on the video below to set a reminder/watch the video.
Watch it live on our YouTube channel in
5:30 pm – Cookalong with Prannie Rhatigan
Join us for a cookalong with Prannie Rhatigan
Join Prannie in her kitchen for a live cookalong using seaweed harvested earlier in the day. Learn some simple recipes for using seaweed to add flavour and nutrients to dishes.
This is a free, online virtual experience
Duration: 30 minutes
How to join: Live on Clean Coasts Instagram. Find us HERE.
Watch it live on our YouTube channel in
7 pm – Simple ways to connect with and protect our ocean with Dr. Easkey Britton
A chat with Dr. Easkey Britton author of newly published “50 things to do by the sea”
Delve into a discussion with Dr. Easkey Britton on what actions we all can take to protect our marine environment. Learn simple ways you can reconnect with the ocean as well as actively doing things for the sea like joining the Think Before you Flush initiative or doing a #2minutebeach clean. As individuals, we all have the power to make a tangible change and positive impact on our blue space protecting it for generations to come.
This is a free, online virtual experience.
Duration: 20 minutes
How to join: Live on Clean Coasts Facebook. Find us HERE.
Join us on Facebook Live in
8:30 pm – Watch-along “The Smog of the Sea”
Watch the artistically created and beautiful film “The Smog of the Sea” with Clean Coasts. Join the discussion on Twitter as we watch the movie together. We want to hear from you. Search for the hashtag #smogoftheseaWOD to join the discussion. The Smog of the sea provides a new perspective on the once pristine oceans and makes an artful call to action for rethinking the scourge of the sea — single use plastic.
This is a free, online virtual experience.
Duration: 30-40 minutes
How to join: Register your spot on Eventbrite and you will receive a link to the movie. Join us on Twitter to join the live discussion. Find us HERE.
Join us on Zoom in