Derry hosts international ‘Smart Water Beyond Borders’ symposium on protecting shared waters

Loughs Agency CEO Sharon McMahon, Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Councillor Grace Uí Niallais and Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Andrew Muir opened the symposium, which examined how environmental intelligence, real-time data, innovation and international collaboration can help address some of the major challenges facing aquatic ecosystems.

Across the two days, 26 speakers explored issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution and increasing pressure on water resources, while sharing examples of how collaboration across borders can support more effective environmental management.

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir said:“I was delighted to be in Derry to attend the Loughs Agency's Smart Waters Beyond Borders symposium today. Protecting and improving water quality is one of my key priorities as Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, and events like this highlight the value of collaboration, science and innovation in addressing the challenges facing our shared waters.

“Through its unique cross-border remit, the Agency supports the delivery of innovative marine observation networks, habitat restoration, nutrient reduction and community engagement, whilst collaborating on research and promoting the sharing of best practice and technical expertise to improve water quality.”

Loughs Agency CEO Sharon McMahon said: “It was fantastic to welcome so many distinguished guests from across Europe, the UK and Ireland to the conference to share their knowledge and explore the issues and opportunities facing our waters and aquatic ecosystems.

“The environmental challenges we face do not respect borders. Climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss place increasing pressure on our waters and addressing these challenges requires us to work together across jurisdictions, organisations and communities.

“As an organisation whose very purpose requires us to work across boundaries, Loughs Agency understands the importance of collaboration. This conference has provided an important opportunity to bring people, knowledge and organisations together, and to explore how science, technology and environmental intelligence can support better decisions and better outcomes for our shared waters.”

International speakers included Ciarán Ó Cuinn, Centre Director of the Middle East Desalination Research Center (MEDRC), Dutch consultant on water resources management and transboundary issues Ele Jan Saaf, and Cyrielle Delvenne, Marine Project and Data Manager at the Flanders Marine Institute.

While Loughs Agency works to conserve, manage and protect the Foyle and Carlingford catchments, the conference demonstrated how lessons from its cross-border structure, environmental work and collaborative approach to governance can have wider relevance in responding to increasingly interconnected environmental challenges.

The event was the second international symposium hosted by Loughs Agency, providing an opportunity to exchange expertise and explore how approaches developed locally and internationally can contribute to the future management of shared waters and aquatic ecosystems.

Loughs Agency’s mission is to sustainably manage, promote and develop the fisheries and marine resources of the Foyle and Carlingford catchment areas.

With an area of operation covering over 4,500km2, all of the loughs, rivers and waterways in this vast area fall under Loughs Agency’s remit.

To find out more about the Loughs Agency visit their website, which can be found here: https://www.loughs-agency.org/