A charity is being launched to help protect the island’s ecosystem.

The Irish Sea Centre (ISC) will have its first public meeting on February 21 to discuss issues relating to the sustainable use and conservation of the sea and the coastal lands surrounding it.

This free event will take place at the Manx Museum at 7.30pm.

Former staff and students of the Port Erin Marine Laboratory, which closed in 2006, are now members and supporters of the new ISC with marine biologist Dr Roger Pullin being one of them.

’It’s obvious that what’s here is exceptionally beautiful,’ said Dr Pullin, a centre founder who has the role of secretary.

’The reason why we have a biosphere status is because the island’s ecosystem is so special, but it doesn’t take care of itself. We have to be proactive to make sure these things don’t get lost.’

First set up in July 2018, the ISC states it will respond to issues such as climate change, economic, institutional, political and social change.

This will be through various partnerships, which will work together to provide education on ecosystem changes as well as responding to these changes.

At this moment in time the ISC is creating its first planning phase to define how it is to go forward.

’We’re just trying to get some money together for the planning phase and we will work out options for what’s best to make a start on,’ Dr Pullin, who is based in Port St Mary, explained.

The Irish sea ecosystem is described by the ISC as a complex network which provides ’vital’ ecological goods and services to a number of sectors, ’including education, energy, fisheries, nature conservation, recreation and sport, shipping, tourism, and waste disposal’.

The Irish Sea, which is a semi-enclosed marine ecosystem connected to the Celtic Seas and the North Atlantic, includes coastal lands and waters of the UK, the Republic of Ireland and, of course, the whole of the Isle of Man.

It has already been agreed by the ISC members that information and advisory services to the public and private sectors could be developed, as well as creating ’attractive and informative displays’ for visitors.

Facilities for aquatic sports; scientific, technical and political meetings and research are being discussed.

Dr Pullin said that a lot of positive steps have been made in conserving the island’s ecosystem since the Manx Wildlife Trust (MWT) was set up in the early 1970s.

’When the Manx Wildlife Trust was first founded there was nothing at all. Now there are around 24 nature reserves, visitor centres and it grew,’ he said.

The ISC’s public event will hear sector members sharing the Irish Sea ecosystem give an overview of their area.

This includes Dr Ken Milne, the government’s director of energy policy; senior marine environment officer for DEFA, Peter Duncan; and chief executive of the MWT, Tim Graham.

There will be talks by Peter Duncan on marine biodiversity, Craig Whalley on basking sharks, seals and more, Erica Spencer on river migrants such as eels and salmon, and Dr Pullin on ’Ridges to Reefs’.