Strangford Lough Yacht Club in Whiterock Bay has installed 10 artificial rock pools along its seawall. The vertipools consist of concrete honeycomb-style basins fixed to the wall with metal bolts. Mourne Gullion Strangford Geopark carried out the work.

The installation marks the first vertipools in Northern Ireland. The project belongs to the Geopark's Greening the Grey initiative, which modifies man-made structures to increase biodiversity. Anna Murtagh, marine protected area officer for the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Geopark, stated that the pools retain water to shelter species affected by climate change and rising sea temperatures.

Murtagh expects the pools to attract crabs, starfish, sea snails, seaweed and possibly unexpected marine life. Geopark engagement officer Gavin Grant noted that planning included marine licensing to protect Strangford Lough's designations. Grant anticipates barnacles and algae to appear first, with clear changes within a year.

Grant added that the pools will aid monitoring of invasive species, such as a local invasive barnacle, for reports to government bodies. Yacht club training captain Heather Gilmore said the setup offers young members hands-on learning about coastal ecosystems. Gilmore expects greater diversity once the pools establish in about a year.

Mourne Gullion Strangford received UNESCO global geopark status in 2022.