A new approach to coastal management in Cork Harbour will be unveiled by Micheál Martin, Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment (note this could change after tonight’s cabinet’s re-shuffle) when he launches a new Management Strategy for the Harbour in the Sirius Arts Centre in Cobh on Friday 9th May at 10am.

Cork Harbour is a unique resource and presents very real management challenges associated with, for example, flooding, water quality, industrial expansion, environmental protection, marina development and recreational usage. This Strategy is based on a voluntary partnership between key management agencies and local stakeholders including Port of Cork, Irish Naval Service, Local Authorities, Government Departments, Chamber of Commerce, Failte Ireland, community development agencies and the IDA.

The Strategy is the culmination of over three years work co-ordinated by the Coastal & Marine Resources Centre (CMRC), University College Cork and the Planning Policy Unit in Cork County Council as part of an EU Interreg Project, COREPOINT (Coastal Research & Policy Integration).

The aim of the Strategy is to bring all those involved in the development, management and use of Cork Harbour together in a framework which encourages the integration of their interests and responsibilities to achieve common objectives in a sustainable manner. Development of the Strategy and its subsequent implementation will put Cork Harbour at the forefront of coastal management practice in Ireland.

Commenting on the launch, Jeremy Gault, Deputy Director CMRC & Corepoint Project Manager, expressed his delight that the Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment had agreed to launch the Strategy which is of relevance to anyone with an interest in the sustainable management of Cork Harbour. He said: “producing the strategy has been an exhausting but worthwhile task that would not have been possible without the support of the joint co-ordinators of the Planning Policy Unit of Cork County Council.” He paid tribute to the members of the Cork Harbour Forum and the Strategic Advisory Group for their time, energy and commitment in bringing this Management Strategy to fruition.

In addition to the Strategy, an Action Plan will be developed for the period 2008 to 2011 based on priorities identified from this Strategy document. This will form the next step in the implementation process and funding has already been secured to facilitate this through an additional EU project.

To obtain a copy of the Strategy document, please contact the CMRC (021 4703100 or visit www.corkharbour.ie).

For further information please contact: Marie McSweeney, Press Officer, University College Cork (T) 021 4902371; (086) 0845182.

May 2008