Environment and Marine Projects

Peatlands and People

At a Glance:

• Duration: 7 years
• Funding: €1.1 million (University of Galway)
• PI: Professor Christine Domegan (Pillar 3)

Women in the Blue Economy: Intelligence Gathering and Capacity
Boosting [WIN-BIG]

At a Glance:

• Partner; In association with 12 other European research organisations.
• Funding: €1.2m – University of Galway €201,000.
• Affiliated colleagues: Professor Stephen Hynes and Dr Edel Doherty

DEEP REST: Conservation & restoration of deep-sea ecosystems in the
context of deep-sea mining Project

At a Glance:

• Duration: 3 years
• Funding: €1.2 million (total)
• Affiliated colleagues: Professor Stephen Hynes

MPA-LIFE-IRELAND

At a Glance:

• In association with 4 other European research organisations.
• Total project budget €24m – University of Galway €719,914.
• Affiliated Colleagues: Stephen Hynes

Abstract:

The overall aim of MPA-LIFE-IRELAND is to achieve and maintain Good Environmental Status in Irelands Marine Area by expanding and improving Ireland’s network of MPAs to reach a minimum of 30% coverage of the Maritime Area by 2030, delivering a network of objective-driven, well-managed, monitored and enforced MPAs. This will be achieved through a participatory Ecosystem-based Management process involving the co-design, co-production and co-delivery of outcomes in close collaboration with marine stakeholder and citizens. SEMRU will lead on the economics work package in the project where the welfare impacts on fisheries and wider society from the development of the MPA network will be examined

Restoration of deep-sea habitats to rebuild European Seas (REDRESS).

At a Glance:

• In association with 15 other European research organisations.  
• Total project budget €1.2m – University of Galway €616,000. (PI Anthony Grehan, WP leader Stephen Hynes who has €305,000 share of Galway budget). 
• Affiliated Colleagues: Professor Stephen Hynes

Abstract:

REDRESS aims to provide a key contribution to the EU commitments towards restoring degraded ecosystems, especially in the deep sea. REDRESS will provide solutions to prioritize future restoration actions, extend deep-sea restoration to previously neglected habitat types, and demonstrate the feasibility, potential, and value for success of deep-sea ecosystem restoration. SEMRU’s role in the project involves providing socio-economic data, protocols, and tools to plan, and upscale restoration interventions in deep-sea habitats as well as related cost-benefit analysis in different deep-sea habitats, supporting policies and decision makers in the future application of the EU Nature Restoration Law.

Drammen City – Zero Emissions 2030

At a Glance:

• Total project budget €1.5 million
• Project duration: 2 years
• Affiliated colleagues: Dr Sheila Malone

Abstract:

The aim of the project is to provide scientific evidence on the health and wellbeing co-benefit of investments in nature-based interventions, with a particular emphasis on exploring the potential of different digital technologies in enhancing citizen's experiences in and of local natural environments (e.g., Drammen City as a reflection of placemaking based a nature-based regeneration project).  This project will provide novel understandings of the processes underpinning successful nature-based regeneration projects and how these can be enhanced through digital innovations.  

Monitoring the Attitudes of Society Towards our Seas (MASTS)

At a Glance:

• Duration: 4 years
• Funding: €400,000
• PI: Professor Stephen Hynes and Patricia McHugh

Abstract:

In order to raise awareness of the importance of healthy oceans, seas and coastal waters amongst a population and help develop solutions on a range of marine related issues it is important to understand that population’s attitudes towards these resources and how they might be utilised. Despite the significant area of ocean that Ireland has jurisdiction over, research into the attitudes of the Irish public towards the seas and oceans around the Irish coast has been limited. In addition, no effort has been made to monitor, in a systematic manner, how those attitudes and held values have changed in line with the substantial marine policies changes that have occurred in recent times. The overarching objective of this project therefore is to establish a framework for tracking the general public’s attitudes, perceptions, interactions and values linked to Ireland’s coastal and marine spaces, their impact on health and wellbeing and the social benefits they provide. To achieve this objective a review will be carried out of previous survey frameworks and marine social attitude surveys that have been implemented both in Ireland and abroad. Following this an appropriate survey instrument will be designed and administered to a representative sample of the general public. A second nationally representative survey with overlapping questions will also be carried out later in the project to examine changes over time. The survey instrument will also be administered to a coastal community to investigate if such a group, who have greater exposure to the marine environment, hold attitudes and values linked to Ireland’s coastal and marine spaces and the social benefits they provide, that differ from the national average. The results will assist in the development of marine policy mechanisms aimed at transitioning to a more sustainable marine environment and ocean economy.

Usage of Irish Seas and Coastal Ecosystems for Tourism Development (UISCE Tourism)

At a Glance:

• Duration: 5 years
• Funding: €375,631
• PI: Professor Stephen Hynes and Professor Mary Cawley

Abstract:

The overarching goal of the project is to carry out research which will underpin the Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth Strategy and the forthcoming National Marine Spatial Plan by describing, modelling and analysing the current state of the marine tourism and leisure sector and by proposing policy measures; thereby enhancing the competitiveness of the marine tourism and leisure sector. The research is framed with reference to the key features associated with an integrated approach to holistically sustainable tourism. With this goal in mind, the project is broken down into 4 key research areas:

1. Review of Marine Tourism Strategies and Policies
2. Spatial analysis of tourism and recreation activities in marine and coastal areas
3. Balancing innovation, heritage and local community engagement when developing marine tourism initiatives
4. Demand Models for Marine Related Tourism Activities

The project is carrying out a spatial analysis of tourism and recreation activities in marine and coastal areas in order to ensure they are considered in terms of Ireland’s National Marine Spatial Plan. Using business surveys, marine leisure enterprises are being linked to the coastal and marine features that they use to produce data and maps of not only marine tourism and leisure enterprises but also the key ‘blue’ assets, beaches, piers, cliffs, etc. that are used by such enterprises.

The project is also examining, through a case study, local community engagement with a key marine tourism initiative in order to examine what spill over effects are accrued from such marine related tourism projects and the lessons that may be learned to build other successful social enterprises based on ‘blue’ assets.

The project is also undertaking an international benchmarking desk study of popular marine tourism activity locations with similar climatic conditions to Ireland in order to identify possible new product offerings, new marketing approaches or alternative approaches to delivering existing marine tourism offerings.

Past marine and coastal tourism survey data are being used that has been collected by SEMRU under previous Marine Institute Awards and the EU Interreg MOSES project. To date this data has been used to examine expenditure and participations rates and a number of reports have been written up in this regard. In this project the same data of some 2700 individual tourists is being used to model the characteristics that influence participation in marine and coastal activities amongst overseas and domestic tourists in order to identify the profile of tourists undertaking such activities and to use same to make policy recommendations to broaden potential participant numbers.

Changing Ocean Ireland: Forecasting Biodiversity and Ecosystem Response. (CÓIR)

At a Glance:

• Duration: 5 years
• Funding: €688,970
• PI: Professor Peter Croot, Dr Anthony Grehan, Professor Stephen Hynes

Abstract:

Climate change is one of the greatest societal challenges of our time, and a key priority outlined in national/international strategies and policies. The CÓIR project brings together an interdisciplinary group of marine scientists based at NUI Galway to work on an integrative national climate change project with colleagues at the Marine Institute and throughout Ireland via existing networks of marine researchers within the SFI centres iCRAG and MAREI. The work programme utilises the experience of the PI’s in marine and climate related aspects of the physical and social sciences to develop an integrative program for assessing climate change in the marine environment in Ireland and the impacts this has on biodiversity, ecosystem services and food webs.

This project is designed to provide the link between current climate change research, on international and national scales, with the need to provide operational advice and support to stakeholders including the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Irish Government, European Commission and international organisations (e.g. EuroGOOS, ICES, OSPAR). These goals will be achieved through stakeholder engagement and cooperation leading to the development of decision support tools to provide the critical relevant information for assessing sustainability in the marine environment to facilitate blue growth. The work in the project also forms part of Ireland’s contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water) and support activities undertaken in the course of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030). The overall objectives of the work programme are broken down into 4 main research areas:

1. Research Evaluation and Data Assessment.
2. Modelling Biodiversity and Ecosystem Response.
3. Risk and Uncertainty Assessment: Threats and Opportunities
4. Integrated Decision Support Tools

Strategic Partnership Agreement in Marine Socio-Economics between Marine Institute and University of Galway

At a glance:

• Duration: 5 years
• Funding: €691,929
• PI: Professor Stephen Hynes

Abstract:

The Marine Institute and National University of Ireland Galway have identified the need for collaboration in the area of marine socio-economic data collection and analysis, with the aim of ensuring that public services they have to perform are provided with a view to achieving objectives they have in common. This collaboration aims to address a number of policy support (e.g. integrated marine policy and developing Ireland’s blue economy through macro and micro level research and analysis), and scientific and technical advisory services (e.g. socio-economic analysis and related advice supporting the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework and Marine Spatial Planning Directives).

The project is jointly funded by NUI Galway and the Marine Institute as part of the Strategic Partnership in Marine Socio-Economics, which is supported under the Marine Research Programme by the Irish Government. The research is framed with reference to 3 key areas of collaboration:

Ireland’s Ocean Economy – Analysis and Annual Reporting
Spatial, Macro, Micro & System Level Analysis
Socio-economic analysis and advice supporting national socio-economic requirements for the implementation of Marine Strategy Framework (MSFD) and Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) Directives
The overall aim of the project is to build on the experience of SEMRU and the Marine Institute in estimating the value of Ireland’s ocean economy in order to further strengthen the collection, reporting and monitoring of Ireland’s Ocean Economy across the maritime sectors of: Shipping & Maritime Transport, Marine Tourism and Leisure, Cruise, Marine Retail Services, Sea-Fisheries, Aquaculture, Seafood Processing, Oil and Gas, Marine Manufacturing, Engineering and Construction, High Tech Marine Products and Services, Marine Commerce, Marine Biotechnology and Bio-products and Marine Renewable Energy. Measuring the links between the sea and national economies is an increasingly important issue for maritime nations. Through the project SEMRU is working with the Marine Institute and other agencies on creating a deeper knowledge and understanding of the drivers of growth at a sectoral level.

Marine economic activity has been shown to play significant roles in national economies, but concerns about degradation of marine waters and habitats call into question the future role of oceans in economic development. The ’blue growth’ agenda considers this issue and aims for marine economic development that is de-coupled from environmental degradation. Unlike other natural resources, such as minerals or agricultural land, marine activities have not, until recently, been explicitly accounted for in the national income accounts, which are the principal means of assessing economic progress in most countries. In this project, the collection of annual performance and economic statistics across the major maritime sectors and the development of ocean satellite accounts will continue to ensure the timely availability of marine economic information for policy makers. It will also facilitate better understanding of the broader socio-economic impact of Ireland’s ocean economy (and related policies) including the impact on regional and rural development, through macro, micro and system level analysis.