The estuaries of Fingal, Ireland: local and national governance meets science

The three estuaries of Fingal municipal region of north-east county Dublin are distinctive consisting of dispersed, multiple, freshwater feeds from small post-glacial streams and rivers, with large sand-spits at the mouth of each estuary. All three are nature reserves, designated under habitats directive, they are abundant water-fowl/waders and falls under the ‘control’ of the Irish National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). Other stakeholders to sections are Fingal County Council who own adjoining parks, golf-clubs with adjoining links courses, fisherman, yachting clubs, farmers and Birdwatch Ireland (the Irish equivalent of BSPB). Management of the estuaries is by benign-neglect with a generally hands-off approach to local interests which on the whole works as designation has halted plans to develop the estuaries for industrial-scale amenity and closing the land-fill in one estuary. Protected species are protected by informing landowners of responsibilities of non-disturbance, but protected species often require more active management of the habitats such as water-course management, invasive species remediation, water source protection, cleaning, and educational/outreach activities in order to bring on side local communities. The MARINE project (Marine & Aquatic Research Innovating New Education) is a multidisciplinary approach to managing an estuary involving a monitoring/surveying aspect of all species and of aquatic pollutants coupled with an educational aspect involving estuarine shore clean-ups, teaching workshops, and data/information provided to local groups via community lists, local newsletters and working with local schools and groups. This paper outlines progress to date.