Launch of three PEACEPLUS projects to strengthen climate change resilience and coastal community engagement in Irish seas

Date published: 27 March 2026

Aiming to strengthen climate change resilience and coastal community engagement in Irish seas, three independent projects supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), were launched on Thursday 26th March at a joint event hosted by the Agri Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) at their Newforge Lane headquarters in Belfast.

Marking an almost €25 million contribution from the PEACEPLUS programme, the event provided a platform to share the project teams’ drive and enthusiasm for the hard work ahead. The three projects will strive to improve awareness and knowledge of climate change impacts on key marine species and habitats around Ireland and the capacity to predict future changes to manage protected areas and species in Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland.

The three projects awarded funding under PEACEPLUS (Theme 5.2) in spring 2025 were:

• ACCLIMATISE (A Changing Climate Impact Monitoring and Assessment Toolbox for Irish Seas, €7.1 million) led by AFBI
• MOSAIC (Multi-disciplinary Ocean Sensing for Adaptive International Conservation, €8 million) led by the Loughs Agency
• CMAP (Coastal Monitoring and Adaptation Plan project, €9.6 million) led by Ulster University.

ACCLIMATISE brings together leading scientific and environmental organisations across the island of Ireland and Scotland, who will apply their combined expertise in marine ecology, ocean observation, biodiversity monitoring and environmental modelling to deliver one of the most ambitious cross‑border marine climate initiatives undertaken in the region. Project partners include the Marine Institute (Foras na Mara), RSPB, the British Trust for Ornithology, the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, Queen’s University Belfast, and the Scottish Association for Marine Science. The project will develop new monitoring tools, digital models, and adaptation strategies to support ecosystem-based marine management across both jurisdictions. 

CMAP has been created to help communities, policymakers and environmental stakeholders better understand and respond to the growing impacts of climate change on the Irish coast. Coastal regions are facing increasing pressures from sea-level rise, stronger storm activity, erosion and biodiversity loss – challenges that demand coordinated, cross-border solutions and new ways of working. This fully funded programme brings together a diverse partnership of organisations across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, combining scientific expertise, environmental knowledge and community engagement to address coastal restoration challenges.

With climate adaptation now essential for environmental sustainability and long-term regional resilience, the initiative will deliver research, data and on-the-ground activities focused on coastal processes, habitat restoration and citizen science across 15 coastal sites in Counties Sligo, Donegal, Londonderry, Antrim, Down and Louth.

MOSAIC will establish an ambitious, cross-border marine observation network linking oceanography and biodiversity to improve how we understand and manage our shared seas in a changing climate.

Bringing together 11 partner organisations from across Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Canada, MOSAIC will deploy innovative sensor technologies and develop new decision-support tools to monitor threatened and declining marine species; from sharks and skates to cetaceans and turtles. The project will deliver joint species strategies and action plans, climate impact indicators and a federated data system to ensure long-term access to high-quality marine data for researchers, policymakers and coastal communities.

Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Andrew Muir MLA said: “I am delighted to mark the launch of three significant PEACEPLUS projects, supported by €25 million in funding, dedicated to strengthening the resilience of our shared marine waters. I wish to acknowledge the Special EU Programmes Body, whose leadership has created this valuable opportunity for joint learning and collaboration on the challenges facing our oceans.

“Climate change, biodiversity loss and water pollution are already affecting our ecosystems, our communities and our economy. The situation at Lough Neagh in recent summers is a clear reminder of the scale of the environmental challenge. Improving water quality is a central priority for me and this source‑to‑sea approach, will help deliver on our commitment in the Programme for Government to improve water quality.

“I am proud to support these projects, not only through the Department’s investment, but through our continued partnership with Special EU Programmes Body to provide strategic guidance on C-MAP, MOSAIC and ACCLIMATISE. I am particularly encouraged by the breadth of collaboration involved, with more than 30 partner organisations, bringing together leading scientific and environmental expertise across this island, Scotland and Canada. Through enhanced marine monitoring, shared evidence, habitat restoration and innovation, these projects will provide a robust evidence base, for forward-looking decision‑making and help build resilience of our marine environment for the years ahead.”

Timmy Dooley T.D Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment said: "As Minister with responsibility for the Marine I am very supportive of projects which are aimed at the sustainable use of Ireland’s seas and coastlines. These three cross border projects, supported by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, will dovetail with and enhance Ireland’s existing marine environmental framework, benefitting everyone on the island who uses or enjoys the sea".

SEUPB Chief Executive Gina McIntyre said: “Our natural environment is one of our greatest assets. Protecting and enhancing it is essential not only for biodiversity, but also for the health, prosperity and well-being of our communities. A clean, accessible and resilient coastline supports tourism, industry, recreation and quality of life — and it contributes to a peaceful, sustainable future for all.

“Today marks a significant milestone for the PEACEPLUS Programme and for the future of our shared marine and coastal environment. The investment in ACCLIMATISE, CMAP and MOSAIC shows what can be achieved when institutions, researchers, communities and governments work together with shared purpose.”

Dr Billy Hunter, scientific lead for ACCLIMATISE, said: “The launch of the ACCLIMATISE project is hugely exciting. Within the project we will develop a toolbox to equip marine managers and policy makers, empowering their ability to make effective marine planning decisions which account for climate change. ACCLIMATISE represents a major step forward in how we observe, understand and respond to environmental change in the Irish Sea. By integrating cutting edge monitoring technologies, ecosystem models and shared data systems, we are building the evidence base needed to protect biodiversity, support sustainable industries, and help our coastal communities adapt to a rapidly changing ocean.”

Professor Derek Jackson, Lead Investigator on the CMAP project at Ulster University’s School of Geography and Environmental Sciences, said: “CMAP represents a significant step forward in how we understand and respond to climate change impacts on our coasts. By combining scientific research with community engagement and cross-border collaboration, we can develop more appropriate strategies to address erosion, biodiversity loss and changing coastal dynamics.”

Speaking about the MOSAIC project, Loughs Agency CEO Sharon McMahon said: “MOSAIC represents a step change in how we work together to protect our shared marine environment. By combining cutting-edge science with cross-border collaboration, we are building the evidence base needed to strengthen climate resilience, safeguard biodiversity and support sustainable coastal communities for generations to come.”