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Displaying items by tag: Blue Bioeconomy

The panel of blue bioeconomy experts has been announced for the Marine Ireland Industry Network’s ‘MIIN in Kerry’ event next week.

Taking place during Bioeconomy Ireland Week on Friday 20 October at the Rose Hotel in Tralee, Co Kerry, as previously reported on Afloat.ie, the event will welcome blue bioeconomy experts as well as national and regional stakeholders a host of marine industry companies to discuss some of the key topics driving sustainability, growth and development of the sector.

The blue bioeconomy panel will be moderated by Máire Éinniu of Údarás na Gaeltachta and includes Catriona Power of Circular Bioeconomy Cluster, John Browne of De Brun Iasc Teo, Tim Yeomans of Shannon ABC and Deirdre Wall of Brandon Bioscience.

Registration for this event is free but limited, so MIIN recommends registering early to avoid disappointment. Those interested can register online and find more information on the MIIN website.

The blue bioeconomy panelists are as follows:

  • Máire Éinniu, Údarás na Gaeltachta (moderator): Máire supports high potential start-ups and assisting SMEs with their growth plans, and leading the strategic projects of Páirc na Mara development and Ros a Mhil. Meanwhile, Údarás na Gaeltachta (UnaG) is a regional state agency which is responsible for the economic, social and cultural development of Gaeltacht regions of Ireland.
  • Catriona Power, Circular Bioeconomy Cluster (panellist): Catriona is the project lead and contact point for the Circular Bioeconomy Cluster based at Munster Technological University, working at the intersection of innovation, sustainable technology and business for organisations in Canada, UK and Europe. Meanwhile, the Circular Bioeconomy Cluster South-west is the first-of-a-kind regional bioeconomy cluster in Ireland with a focus on marine, agriculture and waste-to-value thematic areas, our goal is to develop and promote the circular bioeconomy in the South-West region.
  • John Browne, De Brun Iasc Teo (panellist): De Brun Iasc Teoranta processes seafood in Ireland, and is based in Ballinaboula just outside of Dingle in Co Kerry. Set up in 1984, this second-generation business also supplies many restaurants and cruise ships with crab, prawns and salmon.
  • Tim Yeomans, Shannon ABC (panellist): Tim Yeomans works to devise and deliver projects to benefit the company’s bottom line, responsible for business development activities, scientific and strategic development of Shannon ABC, and financial reporting. Shannon ABC was established in 2008 as a collaboration between Limerick IT and IT Tralee, working with companies in the biotech, food, and life science sectors.
  • Deirdre Wall, Brandon Bioscience (panellist): Brandon Bioscience is a community of scientists, farmers, and innovators who share the goal of creating a more sustainable future for agriculture. Their mission is to provide targeted performance biostimulants that increase the quality and yield of food crops while delivering excellence in innovation, manufacturing and customer satisfaction. Founded in 1998 in County Kerry, Ireland, they have grown to export precision biostimulants to over 44 countries worldwide.

Supported by Enterprise Ireland and the Marine Institute, MIIN provides a key collaboration resource for Irish companies in the marine sector, facilitating not just inter-company engagement but also providing a one-stop shop for external buyers to get a view of Irish marine industry capability.

Published in News Update

The Marine Ireland Industry Network (MIIN) has announced its upcoming ‘MIIN in Kerry’ event on Friday 20 October at the Rose Hotel in Tralee, Co Kerry.

Taking place during this year’s Bioeconomy Ireland Week, the event will host blue bioeconomy experts as well as national and regional stakeholders such as Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Circular Bioeconomy Cluster South West and a host of marine industry companies with expertise in the blue bioeconomy.

MIIN says it is looking forward to discussing some of the key topics driving sustainability, growth and development of the sector.

This year’s Bioeconomy Ireland Week theme is All Voices Together, where stakeholders across Ireland’s bioeconomy will demonstrate and share how the natural environment can be utilised in a sustainable and circular way to help achieve a fair and prosperous economy on the Irish shores.

MIIN aims to showcase a host of local and regional MIIN member companies at #MIINinKerry who boast plenty of experience and expertise working in the blue bioeconomy.

Registration for this event is free but limited, so MIIN recommends registering early to avoid disappointment. Get in touch with [email protected] for more information and follow updates on the MIIN website and social media channels.

Supported by Enterprise Ireland and the Marine Institute, MIIN provides a key collaboration resource for Irish companies in the marine sector, facilitating not just inter-company engagement but also providing a one-stop shop for external buyers to get a view of Irish marine industry capability.

Published in News Update

What is the ‘blue bioeconomy’? Who are the people working on it in Ireland and where do they get support?

Marine scientist and influencer Finn van der Aar will host the first in a series of online events later this month for those who want to learn more about this developing sector and the innovative researchers and businesses operating within it.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will also showcase the relevant supports available and an overview of projects already operating within the blue bioeconomy.

“Bioeconomy-The Blue Perspective” takes place next Friday morning 22 October from 10am to 11.30am. For the agenda and details of how to register, see the event’s Eventbrite page.

This event is organised by the Páirc na Mara Marine Innovation Development Centre, Údarás na Gaeltachta and the Marine Institute as part of Bioeconomy Ireland Week.

Published in Marine Science

Ferry & Car Ferry News The ferry industry on the Irish Sea, is just like any other sector of the shipping industry, in that it is made up of a myriad of ship operators, owners, managers, charterers all contributing to providing a network of routes carried out by a variety of ships designed for different albeit similar purposes.

All this ferry activity involves conventional ferry tonnage, 'ro-pax', where the vessel's primary design is to carry more freight capacity rather than passengers. This is in some cases though, is in complete variance to the fast ferry craft where they carry many more passengers and charging a premium.

In reporting the ferry scene, we examine the constantly changing trends of this sector, as rival ferry operators are competing in an intensive environment, battling out for market share following the fallout of the economic crisis. All this has consequences some immediately felt, while at times, the effects can be drawn out over time, leading to the expense of others, through reduced competition or takeover or even face complete removal from the marketplace, as witnessed in recent years.

Arising from these challenging times, there are of course winners and losers, as exemplified in the trend to run high-speed ferry craft only during the peak-season summer months and on shorter distance routes. In addition, where fastcraft had once dominated the ferry scene, during the heady days from the mid-90's onwards, they have been replaced by recent newcomers in the form of the 'fast ferry' and with increased levels of luxury, yet seeming to form as a cost-effective alternative.

Irish Sea Ferry Routes

Irrespective of the type of vessel deployed on Irish Sea routes (between 2-9 hours), it is the ferry companies that keep the wheels of industry moving as freight vehicles literally (roll-on and roll-off) ships coupled with motoring tourists and the humble 'foot' passenger transported 363 days a year.

As such the exclusive freight-only operators provide important trading routes between Ireland and the UK, where the freight haulage customer is 'king' to generating year-round revenue to the ferry operator. However, custom built tonnage entering service in recent years has exceeded the level of capacity of the Irish Sea in certain quarters of the freight market.

A prime example of the necessity for trade in which we consumers often expect daily, though arguably question how it reached our shores, is the delivery of just in time perishable products to fill our supermarket shelves.

A visual manifestation of this is the arrival every morning and evening into our main ports, where a combination of ferries, ro-pax vessels and fast-craft all descend at the same time. In essence this a marine version to our road-based rush hour traffic going in and out along the commuter belts.

Across the Celtic Sea, the ferry scene coverage is also about those overnight direct ferry routes from Ireland connecting the north-western French ports in Brittany and Normandy.

Due to the seasonality of these routes to Europe, the ferry scene may be in the majority running between February to November, however by no means does this lessen operator competition.

Noting there have been plans over the years to run a direct Irish –Iberian ferry service, which would open up existing and develop new freight markets. Should a direct service open, it would bring new opportunities also for holidaymakers, where Spain is the most visited country in the EU visited by Irish holidaymakers ... heading for the sun!