Protect
Restore
Sustain

Together

The MPA LIFE Ireland project is aimed at significantly expanding Ireland’s network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to reach a target of 30% coverage of the maritime area by 2030.

Its core goal is to make a major contribution to protecting, conserving and enabling the recovery of Ireland’s marine ecosystems, thereby supporting the achievement of Good Environmental Status in our marine environment.

Operationally, the project will examine and develop area-based conservation measures for a wide range of vulnerable species, habitats, and other sensitive features that need protection based on current knowledge and scientific evidence.

These measures in the form of MPAs, along with their conservation objectives and management plans, will be developed and delivered with the active engagement and participation of stakeholders and citizens. This will ensure a robust and meaningful process for the designation and management of MPAs in Ireland.

The MPA LIFE project is set to span nine years up to 2033, and is a partnership between the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, University College Dublin, University College Cork and the University of Galway.

The project is jointly funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the European Union’s LIFE programme.