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Portugal's Secretary of State for the Sea has commended NUI Galway and the BMW Regional Assembly for their efforts in leading the EU INTERREG ‘Marnet’ project. Marnet (Marine Atlantic Regions Network) is a transnational co-operation project which brings together Marine Research Institutes and Regional Authorities across Atlantic regions to map the value of the marine economy to coastal regions in Spain, Portugal, France, Ireland and the UK. 

Delivering his keynote address at the Marnet conference at the Forum Do Mar International Marine event in Oporto this week, Mr. Manuel Pinto de Abreu welcomed the development of a Marnet Atlas of Marine Indicators which will allow local and  regional authorities, Higher Education Institutes and marine industry players compare the value of marine activities to the local economies of Atlantic Regions. Launching the Marnet Atlas of Indicators, the Minister congratulated the project partners for their efforts over the past two years in creating this interactive tool which will help measure economic activities such as maritime shipping, seafood processing and marine tourism across the Atlantic economy.

Dr Stephen Hynes, Head of the Socio Economic Marine Research Unit at NUI Galway stated that

‘Marnet is a unique attempt to value the Atlantic Marine economy at an EU level. National reports have measured the impact of the Marine Economy at country level. However Marnet, will, for the first time, make available marine socio economic data at an EU Atlantic level which will help the key stakeholders in the Marine sector make informed decisions about future investments in the sector’

 BMW Regional Assembly Director, Gerry Finn added that: 

‘ At an EU level, the European Commission has published the Atlantic Maritime Strategy Action Plan which sets out four key priorities for investment in the Marine sector across Atlantic regions of the EU. Marnet will provide the measurement framework to gauge the progress of these priorities and help maximise the benefit to coastal areas of European Regional Funds.’ 

The Socio Economic Marine Research Unit (SEMRU) is the scientific leader for the project and has played an active part in the development of the indicator framework.

The BMW Regional Assembly is the Lead Partner/ Co-ordinator for the Marnet project. 

Further Information, please contact: 

Mr. Gerry Finn, Director, BMW Regional Assembly. Phone: 094-9862970

Dr. Stephen Hynes, SEMRU, NUI Galway. Phone: 091-493105 

The Socio Economic Marine Research Unit (SEMRU) is the scientific leader for the project and has played an active part in the development of the indicator framework.

The BMW Regional Assembly is the Lead Partner/ Co-ordinator for the Marnet project. 

Find out more:

• Marnet
• Socio Economic Marine Ressearch Unit (SEMRU) at NUI Galway