Oceans

Challenges that face the marine research community include the implementation of an ecosystem based approach to sustainable development, the development of renewable ocean energies to diversify existing energy sources and contribute to CO₂ reduction, the exploration of the deep ocean and continental margins in order to uncover its mysteries and assess its resource potential, and to respond to the implications of global climate change and its impacts on marine and coastal environments and communities.

Modelling

MarCon employ state of the art ocean circulation models such as ROMS (Regional Ocean Modelling System), POM, (Princeton Ocean Model), and ECOMSED, (Estuarine Coastal and Ocean Model: Sediments), to investigate various ocean scale processes such as bed sediment mobilisation and morphodynamics, storm surge prediction and coastal flood risk assessment, as well as undertaking studies for the various users of the oceans, as in the management of offshore shellfish stocks, site selection for renewable ocean energy technology, etc.

EUROCEAN 2004
The Galway Declaration

"The seas and oceans have historically played a formative role in the development of many European states. From the utilisation of fish as a food source to the development of international trade, commerce and maritime transport, European society has thrived and prospered from its partnership with the sea. Much of this prosperity can be traced back to the application of science and technology."