By Business & Finance 
Ger Fleming, Met Eireann meteorologist and Marine Institute CEO Peter Heffernan pictured at the launch of Our Ocean Wealth Conference
By Dr Peter Heffernan, CEO, Marine Institute
Ireland is being seen internationally as a happening place for integrated marine planning and policy making and for innovation in the marine sphere.
The Marine Institute is the national agency for marine research and development and is tasked with coordinating SeaFest, Ireland’s national maritime festival (June 29th-July 2nd), and the third annual Our Ocean Wealth Conference to Galway, on behalf of the inter-departmental Marine Coordination Group.
We’re very excited about bringing SeaFest and Our Ocean Wealth Conference to Galway, where we’ll be joined by Irish and international leaders in innovation across policy; business; technology, and research and innovation to speak at the conference at NUI Galway, Friday July 1st, and join the discussion on innovating for our marine future.
Internationally, it’s rare to see such a multisectoral holistic marine gathering across food, technology, shipping and related services, energy, and research and innovation.
I believe it demonstrates the huge potential and opportunity offered up by our oceans. It’s also a reflection of the Government’s ambition to develop Ireland’s marine sector and the focus provided by Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth – An Integrated Marine Plan for Ireland.
Achieving the ambitions of Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth would see an increase in the value of the marine economy to €6.4 billion by 2020 with projected job creation of over new 18,000 jobs in the marine industry by 2020; and increase the GDP contribution of the marine industry from 1% currently to 2.4% by 2030.
Whether we are talking about fishing, aquaculture, ICT, seabed mapping, maritime commerce, shipping, biosciences, etc., there are significant opportunities.
Achieving these goals will also have a significant regenerative effect in coastal communities by stimulating economic activity in sectors such as coastal tourism, fishing, seafood processing, aquaculture, and renewable energy generation.
The conference in Galway July 1st will look at progress towards these goals and we’ll discuss the challenges and opportunities with Irish and international leaders in business, policy and innovation.
The event will also delve into the emerging area of marine spatial planning, and look at our new relationship with the sea, exploring new ways to engage with citizens.
Achieving these goals will also have a significant regenerative effect in coastal communities by stimulating economic activity in sectors such as coastal tourism, fishing, seafood processing, aquaculture, and renewable energy generation
The government recently allocated €10.6m to a new blue growth and marine spatial planning scheme funded under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. This supports actions to enable investment in Ireland’s blue economy and supports the establishment of Marine Spatial Planning in Ireland to promote sustainable growth of maritime economies, as well as promote the sustainable development of marine areas and resources.
Dr Peter Heffernan
Our location in Ireland and in Galway on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean puts us in a unique position to contribute to, and indeed to lead a movement towards transatlantic collaboration on ocean research.
There is an exciting consensus and focus emerging from the Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance (a collaboration between the EU, USA and Canada) on the benefits to be derived by all societies from a concerted campaign to map observe and predict the oceans, and related climate change impacts, in order to de-risk investment, and to inform licensing/regulation of sustainable economic developments, and to protect ecosystem health and services.
We also have a responsibility to protect our oceans, which are a vital component of the life support system for our planet, for future generations.
A range of business events are taking place in Galway as part of SeaFest 29 June – 2 July, including the BIM National Seafood Conference – Global Insights – Irish Opportunity and the Marine Industry Awards at the Radisson Hotel; and the Digital Ocean Event at the Meyrick Hotel, all taking place, Thursday June 30th.
Other events taking place include the Sea Change Researchers Workshop and, Marine Biodiscovery: Deep Waters – Exciting Prospects.
To register for Our Ocean Wealth Conference or learn more about the range of events taking place visit www.ouroceanwealth.ie.
Come to Galway for the business events and stay for the weekend with your family for the SeaFest 2016 Maritime Festival at Galway Harbour, Saturday July 2nd and Sunday July 3rd (9am-6pm). It promises a packed programme of free, family-friendly events including a seafood fair; celebrity cookery demonstrations; tours of Ocean-going vessels; boat trips; films, presentations and lectures celebrating the secrets of the deep … and a gathering of the world-famous Galway Hookers on Galway Bay!
SeaFest aims to help achieve a key goal of Harnessing our Ocean Wealth: An Integrated Marine plan for Ireland–Engaging with the sea.
About the blogger
Dr Peter Heffernan was appointed as CEO of the Marine Institute, Ireland’s national agency for marine Research Technology Development and Innovation in 1994.
Dr Heffernan obtained PhD in marine science from the National University of Ireland, Galway.
He held a post-doctoral position at University of Georgia (USA) in 1985, where he became an associate professor/research scientist, and lead of the Shellfish Research Laboratory.
He has published over 40 scientific papers and has over 20 years of experience in leading marine science policy developments at national, EU and trans-Atlantic levels.
