Ireland’s marine waters (offshore, inshore and coastline) are home to a rich and diverse range of species and habitats. Our maritime area contains a wide variety of habitats ranging from shallow inshore reefs and sandbanks to canyons, seamounts, troughs and cold-water coral reefs in deeper waters. The Environment – Ocean Health chapters of the NMPF help to realise the opportunities Ireland has to continually improve its marine and coastal environment. With regard to policy related to the management of marine environment matters, the NMPF is but one part and the Environment – Ocean Health chapters are shaped by Ireland’s ongoing Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) work among other factors.