To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to detail the steps taken, and planned, to restore coastal habitats in Northern Ireland.

The Northern Ireland marine protected area network plays an important role in protecting and restoring coastal habitats, and my Department’s current focus is on establishing effective management across the network.

Research has been commissioned by my Department from the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) that will identify the impacts of future climate change scenarios on the coastal habitats of Northern Ireland. Coastal habitats which are considered to be at risk will be identified and by using the best available evidence this project will identify practical ways to develop adaptation measures to protect and restore vulnerable coastal habitats. Findings from this research will inform future management and restoration activities for coastal habitats.

Coastal habitats, including saltmarsh, seagrass and shellfish beds, are important carbon stores and are referred to as blue carbon habitats. To assess the feasibility of blue carbon habitat restoration in Northern Ireland, my Department provided grant funding to Ulster Wildlife. This project will inform the development of future restoration projects. My Department is also working with potential delivery partners to develop proposals to restore blue carbon habitats and other coastal habitats. In addition to restoring degraded habitats, these proposals will include activities for protected species, improving water quality and reducing marine litter.

To help support nature recovery, I recently launched the 2021-22 DAERA Environment Fund - Green Recovery Challenge Fund. The restoration of priority marine habitats, and the development of nature based climate change mitigation and adaptation solutions, such as increased natural shoreline resilience to address coastal erosion, are included as environmental priorities within this Challenge Fund. Successful projects will help support the restoration of marine and coastal habitats and ecosystems in Northern Ireland. Further information can be found at: https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/environment-fund