Name of the organisation: Sea Bed Sanctuary

Topic discussed: “Sea Bed Sanctuary: Protecting Marine Ecosystems, Ocean Rewilding, and the Future of Life Beneath the Sea”

Website: https://seabedsanctuary.org

Audio – “Sound – eco-acoustic recordings….”

In this episode, Liz Montalvo revisits a conversation with Rob Monaghan, Darren O’Sullivan, and Dolf D’Hondt from SeaBed Sanctuary, exploring the vital role the seabed plays in supporting biodiversity, storing carbon, regulating climate, and sustaining ocean life. The programme focuses on the important conservation work taking place in Bantry Bay and the urgent need to protect fragile marine ecosystems.

The review examines the damaging impacts of bottom trawling, dredging, pollution, and underwater noise pollution, highlighting how these activities threaten marine habitats and weaken the ocean’s ability to recover. It also explores the concept of ocean rewilding, where protected marine areas allow ecosystems and biodiversity to regenerate naturally over time.

A central theme of the programme is SeaBed Sanctuary’s innovative use of bioa-coustic research, using underwater sound recordings to monitor marine health and better understand the effects of human activity on ocean life.

The episode emphasises that marine conservation is not only a scientific issue, but also a social, cultural, and ethical responsibility involving communities, policymakers, researchers, artists, and the wider public.

Ultimately, the review presents SeaBed Sanctuary as a hopeful example of collaboration between people and nature, reminding us that protecting the ocean is essential for the future of both marine ecosystems and humanity itself.

Rob Monaghan, visual artist and Chairperson of Seabed Sanctuary Collective

Darren O’Sullivan, Skipper with Bantry Bay Charters

Dolf D’Hondt, Bantry Lifeboat crew member, and active community member involved with Seabed Sanctuary Collective, the Save Our Sprat group, and a number of other local groups.

Deep and Wide – Composed and recorded in West Cork, by Florence Humphrys

Stand for Freedom – Composed by Caz Jeffreys and recorded in West Cork with the band, Mango Moon

Eco-acoustic recordings – Recordings from Marcus Maeder‘s eco-acoustic research in Bantry Bay and surrounding areas

Audio – “Sound – ecoacoustic recordings….”

Coordinator.