Marine Foresight Series
http://hdl.handle.net/10793/78
2024-03-29T04:47:04ZMarine Foresight Study
http://hdl.handle.net/10793/1666
Marine Foresight Study
APBmer; MacCabe Durney Barnes
Ireland is experiencing a period of major change in terms of the legal and policy framework for marine
decision-making, the political and socio-economic context for marine activities, the influence of
technological change on marine activities and resultant societal impacts. Furthermore, increased
awareness of the marine environment by the general public, owed to increased education and increased
access to resources, as envisaged by the previous Integrated Marine Plan for Ireland, Harnessing Our
Ocean Wealth (HOOW), continues to provide increased engagement with marine issues.
Ireland is beginning the process of developing a successor to HOOW, and this foresight study seeks to
support that process. The study has reviewed existing information, both in relation to past and current
trends and potential future changes, in seeking to identify the key drivers of change across social,
technological, economic, environmental and political topics.
The results of the study are captured in an Evidence Database and summary report.
Evidence Database also uploaded
2020-09-01T00:00:00ZForesight Brief: Seaweed & Algae as Biofuels Feedstocks
http://hdl.handle.net/10793/563
Foresight Brief: Seaweed & Algae as Biofuels Feedstocks
Marine Institute
Seaweed is a known potential carbon-dioxide (CO2) neutral source of second generation biofuels. When seaweed grows it absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere and this CO2 is released back to the atmosphere during combustion. What makes seaweed, and in particular micro algae, so promising as a fuel source is their growth rates and high lipid (oil) content. Algae are among the fastest-growing plants in the world. Energy is stored inside the cell as lipids and carbohydrates, and can be converted into fuels such as biodiesel (in the presence of oils) and ethanol (in the presence of carbohydrates). Its high protein content implies that waste from the feedstock conversion process may yield a saleable waste stream as well.
The level of interest in the use of algae as a source of biofuels (primarily ethanol and biodiesel but also methane and hydrogen) is rising globally. Several factors appear to account for this. Firstly, despite earlier predictions of stability in world oil prices, such non-renewable hydrocarbon source fuels continue to spiral upwards (having closed at $100 per barrel during Feb. 2008 for the first time) and there is a heightened awareness about the contribution of fossil fuels emissions to rapid climate changes. In this context, algae-based biofuels offer potential solutions since they are known to be a CO2 sorbent and their harvesting may not have a negative CO2 balance due to loss of CO2 absorbing landmass which is the current topic of debate about first generation biofuels. The Marine Institute of Ireland has experienced a rise in interest in seaweed and algae as a potential feedstock for production of biofuels, reflected by requests for data concerning the properties and composition of algae and seaweed, from both the research and industrial communities over the past several months.
2008-01-01T00:00:00ZClimate Change: Implications for Ireland’s Marine Environment and Resources
http://hdl.handle.net/10793/560
Climate Change: Implications for Ireland’s Marine Environment and Resources
Boelens, R.; Minchin, D.; O'Sullivan, G.
Climate has always varied. However, the prospect of continuing global and regional climate change beyond that of normal climatic variation, due to a build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, is now a real possibility. This has potentially serious implications, and possibly some benefits, for the future development of our marine resources. Predicted changes include a greater incidence of storm damage and flooding in low-lying coastal areas and various impacts on marine life including modifications in primary production, food chains and geographical ranges of some species. Increased storm intensity may have significant implications for coastal structures, navigation as well as marine search and rescue operations. Changing marine ecosystems will also have real implications for environmental monitoring, protection and conservation strategies. While international actions to curtail or reduce the rate of climate change are of paramount importance, even if such actions succeed the levels of greenhouse gases currently in the atmosphere are likely to persist for several decades. We must, therefore, improve capacities to predict the types and rates of change and identify the adaptation measures that need to be applied in marine resource use and management. In the absence of policies and measures to prepare for and accommodate the changes, even the more moderate of the predicted scenarios will have significant social and economic impacts.
2005-01-01T00:00:00ZMarine Industries Global Market Analysis
http://hdl.handle.net/10793/559
Marine Industries Global Market Analysis
Douglas-Westwood Limited
This report was commissioned by the Marine Institute and completed in March 2005. Its aims are to act as an input to the strategy development process and specifically to provide the following:
• An estimate of the global market for marine activities in 2004 for sub-sectors defined by the Institute.
• An estimate of the Irish share of the market.
• An assessment of regional market trends and outturns over the period 1999-2004.
• An estimate of the global market and growth prospects by sub-sector over the period 2005–2009.
• Comments on factors that will impact in the longer term – to 2012.
2005-01-01T00:00:00Z