Minister of State Ciarán Cannon has announced €4 million in funding to the Ocean Initiative, which supports research for small island developing states in the area of coastal and marine management.

Speaking ahead of the Our Ocean Conference in Oslo, Norway last week, the Minister of State for Diaspora and International Development said: “Building on Ireland’s previous commitments, this year I am proud to commit €4 million to a newly established Ocean Initiative.

“This initiative will provide short-term capacity support to small island developing states (SIDS), and fund long-term collaborative research between Irish counterparts, private sector or academics, and SIDS in the area of coastal and marine management.”

The new initiative is part of Ireland’s recently launched Strategy for Partnership with SIDS and will help meet commitments made in A Better World, Ireland’s policy for international development, to address climate change and protect our marine environment.

Minister Cannon added: “This conference is a welcome opportunity for Ireland to engage with representatives of international governments, business, NGOs, foundations, research institutes and international organisations in presenting commitments that will contribute to the protection and sustainable use of the world’s oceans.”