What is Surf Therapy?

Recap of the Coastal Catch Up Newsletter from February 2026. Bringing you the latest news, species spotlights and history of the Irish Coastline. Enjoy!Don't forget to subscribe to the weekly newsletter at www.coastalcatchups.com/newsletter

Learn more about why ringing birds is important. I always thought some of the methods of capturing birds looked a bit heavy handed, but the birds were always released unharmed and it is for a good cause.Read more about avocets in Chichester HarbourMeet the avocet family in Chichester Harbour.A website dedicated to birds in the SolentRead more about the Bird Aware Solent here.STEM Education through Offshore Wind Projects“Through our windfarm projects, and working with charities like SAMS (Scottish Association for Marine Science), we can drive forward a focus not only on environmental and educational impact, but also help coastal and rural communities thrive.”- David Robertson, Portfolio Director at the BlueFloat Energy and Nadara partnershipGet out of my swampIt seems skates like the taste of boats now. Read about the interesting encounter between a fisher and a skate in Scotland.

I work as a consultant, supporting organisations and companies working in the marine environment. The purpose is to ensure any development identifies and mitigates the environmental impact on marine life. I enjoy the work because I get to work with a variety of experts and projects.Anyway, I hope this episode gives you a flavour of my career lessons so far and helps you navigate yours. Please excuse the noise interference at the start, it disappears quickly.

In this episode I speak with Joy and David who are both key members of Killyleagh Coastal Rowing Club. They kindly let me interrupt them during an evening of boat prep in the club shed (also David's shed!).I was not familiar with the sport, but coming away from the chat I soon realised how important the sport is for coastal communities, bringing people of all ages closer together and also to the coastline - not forgetting the physical and mental health benefits. As the episode is recorded alongside other members working on the boat, there is some background noise so I do apologise for that, but please don't let it take away from the valuable conversation.Please let me know if this episode inspires you to grab your oars with a local club!

This episode explores the tidal energy industry. Tidal energy has great potential around our coastline as a reliable form of renewable energy, however, it is all about getting the technology right to reduce costs and make it cost-effective, as well as having no environmental impact. On a new format of Coastal Catch Ups, I answer questions from previous guests on the podcast. So thank you John Gilmore for this question regarding the results of an experimental tidal energy project in Strangford Lough. Although I was not involved in the project, there were plenty of documents, as well as digging out old field trip notes during University, to delve into. So I share the key things I took from my research with you.The episode covers:What controls the tides?Where is the best place to harness tidal energy?What technology can be used to generate tidal energy?What was the Seagen Project in Strangford?What are the environmental impacts of tidal energy?Is Tidal energy cost-effective?What are the future plans for tidal energy in the UK and Ireland?I hope you enjoy the episode and learn something new about our coasts. Please let me know what you think at [email protected].

Heidi shares her extensive knowledge on seagrass habitats and the impact of human activities on the coastline and the importance of preserving these areas in Northern Ireland. She highlights the significance of seagrass as a habitat and its potential for carbon sequestration and we also cover the causes of seagrass loss, the need for mitigating its impact, and the role of volunteer support for ecological restoration projects.Heidi is also involved with the Irish Ocean Literacy Network, the Shifting Tides Project in Carlingford Lough, and recently delivered a Ted Talk at Stormont focusing on how our seas can help tackle the climate crisis. You can find the links to these below:Irish Ocean Literacy Network - https://irishoceanliteracy.ieShifting Tides - https://www.theshiftingtides.orgTed Talk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQn8O4Z2-Xo

This week’s episode focuses on Fair Seas mission to establish Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) around Ireland’s seas. Donal is passionate and knowledgable about the subject so no better person to hear about the campaign. For me, I’m excited to see how the management measures are implemented on the ground, after the new laws have passed. It will also be great to see coastal communities involved in the decision making and management of these sites through stakeholder engagement.Hope you enjoy the episode and learn something new about the management of our coastlines.You can find out more about Fair Seas Campaign at www.fairseas.ie.

Listen to this episode where I chat to Bill O'Donnell who volunteers with the Wave Project in Northern Ireland. Bill has volunteered with the organisation for 5 years, and he explains the background to the project, and how surfing has helped, and still is helping, countless children and young adults with mental health issues, physical disabilities and learning difficulties.

This discussion on my trip to New Zealand covered various topics including the carrying capacity of tourism sites, the challenges faced by seabirds such as the Northern Royal Albatross, and the importance of Maori practices in fisheries management.You can join the Coastal Meet Up Community here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/C7MyllLJ9k3Do8w1DIr53MYou can read more about the topics covered at the following websites:Current management plan of Milford Sounds: https://www.milfordopportunities.nz/assets/Projects/210503-MOP-Masterplan-FINAL.pdfRoyal Albatross Centre Website:https://albatross.org.nzHookpods: https://www.hookpod.com/en/Case Study on Rahui: https://reasonstobecheerful.world/rahui-marine-conservation-french-polynesia/

Join me as I reflect on my observations while travelling around eastern Australia.K'Gari (otherwise known as Fraser Island) receives nearly 500,000 visitors a year and is the largest sand island in the world. With sand comes a lot of beauty, but also challenges as it tends to move about a lot. Also find out about the secret hang out spot of Humpback Whales in Hervey Bay, where mums and calves come in for some rest and recovery during their migration. Hear about how citizen scientists are helping protect the species and the importance of the whales to the local community. Finally learn about the formation of coral reefs, what colour they should be, and how ecotourism is playing a role in protecting the Great Barrier Reef. I also learnt how important bird shit is in creating a paradise in the middle of the ocean. Don't forget to subscribe to email notifications at www.coastalcatchups.com.