Marine species such as the crayfish are likely to migrate from Irish waters to cooler seas due to increased climate impacts in coming decades. Photograph: Michael O'DonnellPublished on Wednesday, it identifies key Irish marine areas that are more resilient and can promote biodiversity in the face of worsening climate disruption in coming decades and should be protected asand across the world last summer are a stark reminder of the effects of climate change.
PML found more than half of Irish waters host “climate change sanctuaries” – areas more resilient to climate change impacts. The majority of these areas are located in offshore regions and overlap with sites previously identified as “areas of interest” for MPA designation by Fair Seas. PML’s principal investigator Prof Ana Queiros said climate-driven changes to habitat conditions were already leading to an unprecedented redistribution of marine species in our coasts and seas. “MPAs that are put in place in recognition of those changes present an invaluable time-buying strategy to protect our marine wildlife until such a time when we have slowed down the pace of climate change,” she added.