Welcoming the publication, Marine Institute, CEO, Dr Peter Heffernan said that "the strategy recognises the importance of the European Maritime Economy and the critical role of marine science and technology in its development. The strategy sets out an approach that is very compatible with, and complementary to, that set out by the Irish Government in the National Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation (2006-2013)."

The Marine Institute played a key role in the formulation of the very influential Galway (2004) and Aberdeen (2007) Declarations which paved the way for the new strategy. Dr Heffernan, himself, chaired key stakeholder meetings in Brussels, Bremen, Aberdeen and Lisbon, which secured Marine Science and Technology as a key component of the Integrated Maritime Policy for the European Union adopted in October 2007.

The principle aim of the Marine and Maritime Research Strategy is to mobilise Europe's very considerable marine and maritime science and technology capabilities. This in turn will support the aims and objectives of the Integrated Maritime Policy for the Union which is to develop a thriving maritime economy in an environmentally sustainable manner. The Strategy outlines a number of the challenges for science and technology in addressing, for example, climate change and the impact of human activities on coastal and marine ecosystems.

Yvonne Shields, Director of Strategic Planning and Development, and manager of the Irish Sea Change Strategy, said that "the EU Marine Research Strategy provides an important regional context for the Irish Sea Change Strategy. The two strategies are mutually supportive and identify similar priorities. This provides a considerable opportunity to leverage matching EU funding and carry out joint projects based on the significant investments already made and planned under the Sea Change Strategy.

www.fishupdate.com is published by Special Publications. Special Publications also publish Fish Farmer, the Fish Industry Yearbook, the Scottish Seafood Processors Federation Diary, the Fish Farmer Handbook and a range of wallplanners.

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