Highest level recognition of marine resource potential

When it was launched in July 2012 the Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth strategy was broadly welcomed throughout the maritime community as being a significant achievement by government and a welcome first step on the road to tapping into a global marine market for seafood; tourism; oil and gas; renewable ocean energy, and more, worth €1.2bn.

At the time, and by way of a compliment to the professionalism of those concerned, we described the strategy launch as a ‘master class of meticulous and highly choreographed planning’. Two years later the same praise is justly fitting, following the first HOOW conference.

This event succeeded on several levels; not only was it well attended and well managed it also had real and interesting content. The maritime community should be especially pleased that the event included contributions from An Taoiseach and not one, but four of his cabinet colleagues. This level of cabinet attention is almost unprecedented.

What does it tell us?

The message couldn’t be clearer: banished forever – we hope – is the provocative headline we reported in these pages some years ago that in relation to the marine sector ‘Ireland is closed for business’. At long last the maritime agenda is being taken seriously at the very heart of government.

It’s potential has been recognised, and the HOOW strategy is being implemented. Gone too is the lip service and tokenism so often the political response to what was our most invisible national resource – a resource whose economic limitations now seem boundless.

In just two years the HOOW strategy has developed into much more than Ireland’s Integrated Marine Plan. The document itself engenders a sense of confidence in the marine sectors. This has never been seen before.

We also report in this issue the introduction by government of a National Inshore Fisheries Forum tailored specifically for the inshore fishing sector. Numerically large but chronically disorganised and under resourced, this section of our fishing community has never received from government that it deserved.

The common denominator in both of these stories is Minister Coveney. Two years ago we identified him as a talented, hard-working and clear-thinking minister who was both knowledgeable and passionate about his brief. It is now somewhat ironic that as this issue of Inshore Ireland is going to press there is speculation that Minister Coveney will soon be vacating Agriculture House for promotion to another department.

If true, there will be very many throughout the various sectors of the marine who will regret his departure. We noted two years ago that with Minister Coveney at the marine wheel and Taoiseach Kenny as navigator, it was going to be a very interesting journey for Ireland’s maritime sector.

If there is to be change at the top in marine let’s hope the new minister will be as dynamic, hard working and passionate as Minister Coveney.