The European Union has decided to celebrate the achievements and potential of Europe's ocean and seas by declaring 20 May as a dedicated 'European Maritime Day'.

Members of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security visited Galway for detailed briefings on the Marine Institute’s programme to understand the key drivers of climate change in Ireland by studying forces at work in the Atlantic Ocean.

A new approach to coastal management in Cork Harbour was unveiled by Micheál Martin TD, Minister for Foreign Affairs, when he launched a new Management Strategy for the Harbour in Cobh, Co. Cork.

Mr John Browne .D, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, has announced that he has allocated more than €3 million for important coastal protection works around the country in 2008.

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Tony Killeen TD, said that the Government is taking the necessary steps to ensure that coastal defences are put in place around the country.

Easy and immediate access to a wide range of ocean data - including wave and tide heights - is now available through IMOS – the Integrated Marine Observations page of the Marine Institute website.

Northern Ireland Environment Minister Arlene Foster has unveiled the results of extensive research into the natural environment - including the discovery of 29 new marine species off Rathlin Island.

The European Commission has published a Communication on the role of fisheries management in implementing an ecosystem approach to marine management.

As of April 2008, the port of Shannon in Ireland has become an official Ecoports member.