DAERA urges public to protect Northern Ireland’s marine wildlife with new coastal guidance

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is calling on the public to act responsibly around Northern Ireland’s coasts by following newly issued guidance on preventing disturbance to vulnerable marine and coastal wildlife.

As outdoor activities along the Northern Irish coast become increasingly popular, DAERA has launched a comprehensive guide aimed at promoting sustainable interactions with local wildlife.

The initiative outlines best practices for avoiding unintentional harm to species that are particularly sensitive to human presence.

The new guidance offers an overview of the animals that beachgoers and water users may encounter and details the simple steps that can be taken to minimise disruption.

Highlighting the significance of the region’s natural assets, Minister Andrew Muir said:

“We are very lucky to have such a special coastline and marine area in Northern Ireland. While we want everyone to be able to enjoy their time at the coast, we must avoid causing disturbance to our precious coastal and marine wildlife.”

He added:

“We have an amazing array of marine wildlife, much of which is protected by law and I would encourage everyone to familiarise themselves with the basics of how to avoid marine wildlife disturbance before setting out along the coast.”

The guidance emphasises general principles such as maintaining a respectful distance, keeping noise to a minimum, and ensuring that watercraft movements are steady and predictable to reduce the risk of disturbing marine animals.

To complement the full guide, DAERA has also produced a quick-reference leaflet that provides a visual overview of responsible behaviour at the coast. It includes emergency contact numbers for reporting sick, injured, dead, or stranded marine animals.

While most people behave responsibly, DAERA reminds the public that any deliberate disturbance or injury to protected species should be reported to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) via the 101 number.

The guides are being distributed at marinas, harbours, and popular coastal sites across Northern Ireland throughout the season. Both documents are also available online on the official DAERA website.

With this campaign, DAERA aims to balance the enjoyment of Northern Ireland’s unique marine environment with the responsibility to preserve it for future generations.