Europe’s Oldest Marine Reserve Is in Decline. Is It Too Late To Save It?

Lough Hyne, Europe’s oldest marine protected area, is in rapid decline, and no one knows why.

A tiny sea enclave on Ireland’s south coast, Lough Hyne has long been a mecca for marine biologists, who have travelled from afar to study its rich biodiversity. The renowned Irish naturalist Robert Llyod Praeger once described Lough Hyne as resembling “a gigantic marine aquarium” — a system small enough to get to grips with, yet varied enough to be representative of the ocean. It is one of the most studied marine sites in the world.

Yet, in recent years, large swaths of the lough have become barren. The purple sea urchin, a species that once dominated these waters, is now virtually absent, seen as a symptom of larger changes afoot.

This investigation looks at what could be ailing Lough Hyne, and asks whether the management of this protected area is fit for purpose. With Europe now committed to protecting 30% of its marine area by 2030, the demise of Lough Hyne raises important questions about what protection means, and how ready we are for the challenges ahead.