New study to boost Irish Sea boating

7th July 2009

The marine leisure industry on both sides of the Irish Sea will receive a boost through a new Interreg programme to develop 'centres of excellence' for maritime activity in Ireland and Wales. The project kicks off by supporting Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta this week through the production of an 'economic study' on the value of the regatta to Dun Laoghaire. This study will provide data for further marine leisure infrastructure projects on both sides of the waterway.

The initiative is a partnership between the Irish Marine Federation, North Wales Watersports and the South Wales Marine Leisure Federation and has been assisted by the Ireland/Wales Interreg IVA Programme.

The programme, named irish-sea.org will develop a shared knowledge network of 4 streams of activities. Collaborative marketing to promote the coastal zone and to develop an Irish Sea brand to promote water based leisure activities, marine industry commercial development to provide management and vocational training. Identifying opportunities for growth through research and contributing to marine spatial planning on both sides of the Irish Sea. The fourth activity stream will be the development of marine festivals and events in both coastal zones.

Published in News From the Afloat.ie Archive

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