Trans-Atlantic mapping survey to take place
Irish Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Simon Coveney, European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation Carlos Moedas, and Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Karmenu Vella, along with Canadian Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Gail Shea, have announced the first trans-Atlantic mapping survey to take place under the Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance.
The Irish research vessel, RV Celtic Explorer, will undertake a mapping expedition between St. John’s, Canada, and Galway, Ireland, in June of this year, as scientists from the Irish Marine Institute will be joined by a multi-national team made up of European, Canadian and American ocean mapping experts.
Speaking in Brussels, Coveney said: “Information from the seafloor is vital to the sustainable management of the Atlantic as well as to important industries such as fisheries, aquaculture and tourism. Ireland has developed a world leading reputation for seabed mapping and is also very committed to the implementation of the Galway Statement and so I am delighted to put at the disposal of the team, Ireland’s state-of the art research vessel-RV Celtic Explorer.”
Moedas added: “I am committed to harnessing the societal and economic value of our oceans, while protecting fragile marine ecosystems. Under Horizon 2020 we have invested just under €70m to support the Galway Statement follow-up. The first calls delivered excellent project proposals involving international teams. I am glad that this investment is being leveraged to make our transatlantic vision a reality.”
The announcement was made at the Commission-hosted event ‘The Atlantic- Our Shared resource. Making the Vision Reality’.
The event is the launch pad for all the Galway Statement follow-up projects funded with the first Horizon 2020 Blue Growth calls.
