MarPAMM Project

What is the project about?

MarPAMM is an environment project to develop tools for monitoring and managing a number of protected coastal marine environments in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Western Scotland. It will be completed by 31 March 2022.

It is a cross-border project because many marine species and habitats do not abide by administrative borders. To manage mobile species and border areas requires cooperation.

MarPAMM partners will collect data on the abundance, distribution and movement of marine protected species and habitats. These data will help us produce new habitat maps and develop models for a range of species, including connectivity assessment for species with mobile life stages.

We will produce a regional sea bird model, a regional model of protected seabed-dwelling species and habitats, a seal foraging and underwater noise model and a coastal processes model.

Working closely with stakeholders and partner projects such as COMPASS and SeaMonitor, the project will culminate in the development of six comprehensive MPA management plans.

Who is delivering the project?

The seven-partner organization strong MarPAMM consortium consists of statutory organisations (Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Marine Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage), academic institutions (University College Cork; Ulster University; Scottish Association for Marine Science) and a Non-Governmental Organisation with expertise in a relevant field (BirdWatch Ireland).

Nearly 50 people from these organisations contribute their diverse expertise and experience in marine conservation, marine research, habitat mapping, modelling, stakeholder engagement, project management and communication.

MarPAMM is coordinated by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute in Northern Ireland.

Who is funding this work?

This €6.4 million project is supported by the European Union’s INTERREG VA Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

Match funding has been provided by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland and the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government in Ireland.