The Irish Government has outlined new economic research that indicates its blueprint for the marine sector to deliver more than 16,100 additional jobs and an additional €2.7bn in economic growth by 2020.
Speaking at the second ‘Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth’ conference, in Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork, Simon Coveney TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, said that Ireland is on a journey of marine expansion, experiencing a 9% increase in growth over the last five years with an economic value of 1.3% of GDP.
Minister Coveney said: “We are building on this progress with the publication of a development framework for the marine sector, coupled with the clear commitment from Government to introduce a marine spatial planning process for the country, which will underpin the achievement of these economic targets as the Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth strategy is implemented.”
Ireland’s Ocean Economy report and associated research on the downstream impacts of the marine, produced by the Socio Economic Marine Research Unit at the National University of Ireland Galway, confirms the current value of the Ireland's 'blue economy.'
In addition to the 18,400 individuals currently directly employed in our marine industries, a further 13,000 are employed indirectly across the wider economy, creating an additional €3.3bn in turnover. For every €100 turnover created from the ocean economy, a further €78 is created indirectly in other sectors.
This second annual conference which reviewed ongoing progress on implementation of the Government’s Integrated Marine Plan (published in 2012), was attended by over 500 delegates from the public and private sector with an involvement in the marine sector.
