Marine Mammal Strandings

F o r a s n a M a r a " to undertake, to coordinate , to promote and assist in marine research and development and to provide such services related to marine research and development that, in the opinion of the Institute, will promote economic development and create employment, and protect the marine environment ". The Maritime INTERREG Series was established to promote the dissemination of results of ongoing INTERREG funded research to the wider marine community. It is intended that the Series will stimulate discussion on the contribution of R & D to the development of the marine sector. Note: Responsibility for information presented and views expressed in the Series rest solely with the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Marine Institute. to: 1. promote the creation and development of networks of cooperation across the common maritime border. 2. assist the eligible border region of Wales and Ireland to overcome development problems which arise from its relative isolation within the European Union. These aims are to be achieved through the upgrading of major transport and other economic linkages in a way that will benefit the constituent populations and in a manner compatible with the protection and sustainability of the environment. The Maritime INTERREG area includes the coastlines of counties Meath, Dublin, Wicklow, Wexford and Waterford on the Irish side and Gwynedd, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire on the Welsh side and the sea area in between. In order to achieve its strategic objectives the programme is divided into two Areas: Sub-Programme 1: Maritime Development: transport, environment and related infrastructure (59 mEuro) Sub-Programme 2: General Economic Development: Economic growth, tourism, culture, human resource development (24.9 mEuro) The Marine and Coastal Environment Protection and Marine Emergency Planning Measure (1.3) has a total budget of 5.33 mEuro of which 3.395 mEuro is provided under the European Development Fund. EU aid rates are 75% (Ireland) and 50% (Wales). The specific aims of Sub-Programme 1.3 are: • to promote the transfer of information between the designated areas. • to establish an in-depth profile of marine/coastal areas for conservation of habitat/species. • to explore, survey, investigate, chart the marine resource to provide a management framework. • to develop an integrated coastal zone management system. • to improve marine environmental contacts and cooperation. • to promote the sustainable development of the region. • to improve nature conservation.