Between July and September 2025, the Irish Demonstration Site conducted an online participatory mapping survey, inviting anyone living or working in the Irish marine space to take part. The survey successfully collected representative spatial and demographic data to identify which areas are valued and which are perceived as concerning by different stakeholder groups. In total, participants mapped 635 spatial features, with over 130 people from a wide range of sectors and nationalities contributing.
More than 90% of respondents live within 20 km of the coastline and visit coastal areas at least once a month. This strong connection to marine and coastal ecosystems is further reflected in the fact that two-thirds of participants work in the maritime sector, and of these, 75% spend part or all of their time working at sea. The main contributing stakeholder groups included citizens, local communities, researchers, and members of government bodies.
The most frequently mapped features were “Marine mammals”, with more than 80 locations identified around Ireland, followed by “Outdoor land-based activities” and “Fish”. This rich dataset will be processed by the Marine Institute to produce maps highlighting areas of value and concern, which will feed into an upcoming deliverable later this year. In collaboration with the University of Galway, the data will also be integrated into future prototypes of the BioProtect Marine Planner, the project’s spatial digital tool designed to support decision-makers in implementing systematic conservation planning and spatial conservation measures.
