Coastwatch Europe

Description

Coastwatch Europe is an international network of environmental groups, universities and other educational institutions that work with local groups and individuals along Europe’s coasts.

It began as the Dublin Bay Environment Group, later the Irish Coastal Environment Group, and then grew into Coastwatch Europe as volunteers set up networks in other countries. Its Irish member is normally known simply as Coastwatch, and it partners with the Ulster Wildlife Trust in Northern Ireland for survey work.

The network mainly protects wetlands by raising public awareness of their value and showing practical ways to save them. All member countries take part in the annual Coastwatch Survey, which monitors coastal litter and pollution; in Ireland the survey helped show a fall in plastic bag litter after a bag levy was introduced. Coastwatch Europe has taken part in hundreds of public events and published articles, scientific papers and books since the 1980s.

Its work relies heavily on volunteers, from surveyors to regional and national coordinators, supported by a small paid staff for administration and data handling. It is a member of the Irish Environmental Network and the European Environmental Bureau, and takes part in cross-border project partnerships.