Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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I want to stick with the question that Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked about whether we need to refer specifically to acoustic monitoring in the legislation. The witnesses can correct me but I assume that if one designates a special area of conservation or special protection area, SPA, it is because it is a habitat for the species and therefore the monitoring and management is related to the objectives of what one is trying to protect. I am guessing that not all marine protected areas will require acoustic monitoring. Is that too much of an assumption? If part of a coast is a salt marsh, does it need acoustic monitoring? I want to be precise in legislation. If the witnesses say we need to put in acoustic monitoring for an MPA, will it be excessive? I totally agree that it is needed. Mr. Lyne probably wants to speak on that.