The critically endangered Angel Shark. One of over 70 species of shark and ray in our waters. The Angel Shark was common up until 1960s. We know so little about them but we know fishing practices changed in 1970s with tangle netting... @whittledaway.bsky.social www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...

It was great to be talking on the radio today about critically endangered angel sharks with film maker Ken O'Sullivan. Listen back here ⤵️ www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...

I contributed to this review of our environmental performance in 2025 - despite some good news stories the headline indicators are still moving in the wrong direction. www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...

Decommissioning the Ardnacrusha dam would be a fitting way to mark its centenary of service, and open the next century of rewilding www.limerickleader.ie/news/environ...

EU rejects Dutch manure exemption over water pollution risks

Meanwhile the Netherlands fails in its bid to retain its nitrates derogation nltimes.nl/2025/12/23/e...

It's a shame to see this challenge, though probably not surprising theskipper.ie/fishermen-lo...

Important end-of-the-year article on government priorities: fight tooth and nail to defend nature-killing activities like the nitrates derogation, do next to nothing to support nature protection or restoration. The result? Species and ecosystems continue to plummet.

Irish nature is in crisis. We know what needs to be done & we know we can succeed. We only need the political leadership to deliver an ambitious Nature Restoration Plan and the funding to make it happen. www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...

If we're to turn the tide on nature loss, we're going to need a government that treats it with the level of priority that was given to holding on to the nitrates derogation www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...

A leaked draft of legislation for MPAs that nearly passed in 2024 indicates that the government is taking a minimalist approach with low ambition for restoration of marine life. www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/ou...

A highlight for me this year was the launch of @rewildyourland.bsky.social and I met dozens of people across Ireland who are already enjoying the thrill of rewilding. There are more plans in the pipeline so here's hoping that 2026 will see rewilding go from strength to strength in Ireland!

Science has named the seemingly unstoppable growth of renewable energy worldwide as the 2025 Breakthrough of the Year. Learn more about this year's #BOTY and other big advances in science: https://scim.ag/493Tpgx

It's worth cataloguing what has happened in the water world in the last few weeks alone. It paints a picture of a Government who are not at all prioritising the health of our waterways, and who are failing on multiple fronts to put in place the measures we actually need. A watery rant 🧵

Somebody knows me well 🌲

Critically endangered angel sharks have been waiting for 40 years for meaningful protection despite community and scientific efforts to prevent their extinction www.irishtimes.com/science/2025...

Maybe we can sue the fish for not showing up? www.radiokerry.ie/news/kerry-c...

The sea is now all out of fish. Even the fishing industry is throwing in the towel. If only there was another way of taking from the sea without destroying the biggest ecosystem on earth. Oh well, time to look for a compensation package!

This is a wonderful project from @hometreecharity.bsky.social for the restoration of upland native oak forests www.independent.ie/regionals/ke...

A report this week showing that a whopping 90% of protected habitats are in bad condition, and still deteriorating, has been hailed by the government as "good news for Ireland's wildlife" 😵

Tony Holohan is absolutely right to point out the human health impacts of worsening pollution. Of it's all connected! www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

Ireland back, again, at the European Court of Justice, this time for failures in our sewage treatment plants www.rte.ie/news/ireland...

This is incredibly disappointing. Imagine if the government treated the protection of nature with the same level of priority that they placed on keeping the nitrates derogation www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

Ireland's 'unique grass-based agriculture system'

"Today’s vote by the European Nitrates Committee to approve an extension of Ireland’s nitrates derogation for another three years is a bad day for Irish waterbodies and for everyone who relies on clean quality water in Ireland" www.antaisce.org/news/eu-nitr...

Remarkable decision given only last week Ireland was successfully convicted by the ECJ for not implementing the Water Framework Directive and the deteriorating state of our waterways

Excellent article from @elainemcgoff.bsky.social on the many, many failures that have led us to where we are. Nobody asked the people of this country if we were willing to sacrifice our waterways so the dairy industry could wallow in profits www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...

My attempt to cut through some of the misinformation around farming and water quality as we approach decision time on Ireland’s nitrates derogation www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/ou...

Important rewilding initiative underway in the North Sea, with an Irish connection due to involvement of researchers at ATU. Ending bottom trawling in existing MPAs is an important first step. rewildingeurope.com/news/pioneer...

What evidence is there that uplands like this were once covered by temperate rainforest, and would return to such a state naturally but for sheep? Loads... 🧵

Beautiful story of the people who are not only saving a species but reimagining the human relationship with the rest of life... www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...

Inland Fisheries Ireland has been in turmoil now for years - not good when we need proper policing of our waterways www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41...

A new Ireland Thinks poll, commissioned by An Taisce, reveals Irish public appear at odds with Government’s application for a derogation from EU Nitrates Directive. It comes days before a crucial EU vote on the derogation expected on December 9th. Full results: www.antaisce.org/news/public-...

The fishing industry is lobbying hard to maintain business as usual even as their members stare into the abyss. Most fishermen want a change in direction! thefishingdaily.com/latest-news/...

Today in Bantry Bay and in a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) around Garinish Island, two under 18m vessels have been pair trawling. While they are most likely fishing for sprat, and that's not illegal for these trawlers, we have 3 key questions for the government ... 🧵

1. The European Parliament’s attempt to ban plant-based foods from being sold as “sausages”, “burgers” etc is a direct response to livestock industry lobbying. This is a short thread on how utterly bleeding ridiculous it is. 🧵1/6

Great piece from @hannahdaly.ie countering the nihilism of the 'we don't matter' arguement www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

Possible signs of progress at Killarney National Park? This is the Derrycunnihy area of the Park which is being targeted for deer culling and where there are signs of a positive response from the vegetation. Good news...

This is some very positive news - there are thousands of river barriers on Irish rivers that serve little to no purpose. Removing them will open habitat to migratory fish and essential natural processes, like movement of silt. www.gov.ie/en/departmen...

The Curragh in Co Kildare is ecologically trashed due to sheep grazing. I understand politicians need to feel their county has something to offer but surely the National Park label needs to carry some shred of integrity? www.irishexaminer.com/farming/arid...

Extraordinary misinformation in this interview from MEP Ciaran Mullooly, claiming that water quality in the River Blackwater is 'excellent' when, in fact, a third of its water bodies are polluted, primarily from agriculture!

I was on the radio talking about the illegal killing and beheading of a stag in Dublin earlier. Not sure why people are shocked given high levels of wildlife crime in Ireland and the (perfectly legal) trophy hunting that goes on www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...

Rewilding in Wicklow! A little support from authorities for the eradication of non-native trees and plants would go a long way to encourage private landowners to resuscitate important old forests like this one 🌳

"This is the first time we can say with certainty that European wildcats lived in prehistoric Ireland" A stunning discovery and more evidence that there's a lot left to discover about Ireland's ecology! www.rte.ie/news/munster...

Strong new evidence from across Europe, from both rural and urban areas, for the recovery of large carnivores. "many respondents express no strong position, suggesting that large carnivores are less polarizing than often portrayed" www.nature.com/articles/s41...

I visited Abbey Wood in Killarney National Park over the weekend where a massive job of rhododendron removal has been undertaken in the last year or so with the help of Killarney Moutain Meitheal. The area is now deer fenced to allow recovery - very impressive work!

I had the a welcome opportunity to move beyond the standard Punch & Judy media setup to properly look under the derogation hood, & explore why the Government measures are failing our waters & failing our farmers. www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...

"We don’t want all of that traditional knowledge to be lost" Delighted to see my former @irishwildlifetrust.bsky.social colleague Grace Carr featured in this series where she talks about the need for Marine Protected Areas 🐬 www.independent.ie/life/climate...

A ‘national embarrassment’: Ireland in breach of multiple water quality rules, court finds www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...

We're constantly being told that pollution prevention measures are working and more time is needed to show results. But the rivers don't lie. www.independent.ie/regionals/co...