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SWAN Calls for More Urgent Action as EPA Report Exposes Persistent Sewage Failures

The Sustainable Water Network (SWAN), representing 25 of Ireland’s leading environmental NGOs, has warned that the recent EPA Urban Wastewater Treatment Report [1] demonstrates that pressing failures persist due to inadequate management and slow infrastructural delivery, posing serious risks to water quality, public health, and biodiversity. More urgent action is needed by Uisce Eireann and … Read more

An Ecological Catastrophe on the Blackwater — and a System That Let It Happen

Almost one month ago today, one of Ireland’s worst ecological disasters unfolded on the River Blackwater in Cork – an estimated 50,000 fish—salmon, trout, eels, lamprey—were reported dead in a stretch of the River Blackwater in Cork.   At the time of writing, the cause is believed to be a chemical agent entering the river, but … Read more

Freshwater Stakeholder Survey

Do you work (paid or voluntary) protecting or restoring freshwaters on the island of Ireland? If so, we would be grateful if you could take a few minutes to complete the below survey. The survey is a joint project between Sustainable Water Network Ireland and the NI Freshwater Taskforce, a working group of NI Environment Link. … Read more

SWAN talk on fish farms at Patagonia Movie Night

On the 30th of April, Patagonia will be showing a remarkable film about a campaign in Iceland to ban open-net fish farms in its shop in Dublin. SWAN has been invited to talk on salmon fish-farming in Ireland at the event. SWAN will be discussing how the environmental effects of salmon farming as seen in … Read more

How environmentally sustainable is Irish aquaculture?

At Thursday’s IFA Aquaculture Conference, Minister Timmy Dooley reiterated the government’s commitment to continuing to support the development of the aquaculture sector and streamlining aquaculture licencing. At a time when the government is promoting growth of the Irish aquaculture industry, SWAN believes it is more vital than ever to prioritise the restoration of nature and … Read more

The Programme for Government Holds No Water

Water pollution is the environmental hazard the Irish public is most worried about [1]. This is not surprising. We already know from the EPA that almost half of our waters are unhealthy and pollution is increasing in many parts of the country. The same week the draft Programme for Government was published a study of … Read more

The Marine Strategy Framework Directive- what is it and how did SWAN respond to the 2024 report? 

In July, the Department for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) launched the “Public consultation on Ireland’s Marine Strategy Framework Directive Marine Strategy Part 1: Assessment (Article 8), Determination of Good Environmental Status (Article 9) and Environmental Targets (Article 10),” to which SWAN submitted a response in September.  The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) is … Read more

Water Action Plan a missed opportunity to tackle water pollution

The Sustainable Water Network (SWAN), a network of 25 environmental organisations, has called the new Water Action Plan, published by the Government today, a failed opportunity to introduce the strong measures needed to tackle water pollution and other damage to our rivers, lakes, and coastal habitats.   Almost half our waters (46%) are currently unhealthy or … Read more

EPA water report shows far stronger measures needed to tackle water pollution.

The Sustainable Water Network (SWAN) reacted to today’s EPA Water Indicator Report by calling on the Government to put in place far stronger measures to address Ireland’s water pollution crisis and tackle ongoing pollution from agriculture and forestry run-off, and discharges of raw and inadequately treated human sewage. The report highlights that nearly half of … Read more

Help stop destructive fish trawling in Ireland’s inshore waters by supporting a ban on large trawlers.

bottom trawler fishing boat with net and fish

Ireland currently has the opportunity to enact a previously overturned fisheries policy which was one of the most important conservation measures for marine ecosystems and local fishing communities in the state’s history, and SWAN calls on the public to voice their support.   The Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine (DAFM) has opened a public … Read more