Eleven member Marinas met in Howth Yacht Club to discuss a number of issues including current business conditions, Blue Flag Marina Scheme, development plans in County Kerry, the rigid interpretation of Habitat 2000 regualations.

The Government initiative, Our Ocean Wealth, towards an Integrated Marine Plan for Ireland was discussed in regard to a submission by the Irish Marine Federation.

Failte Ireland’s Ethna Murphy, Manager, Destination Development, gave a presentation on the development of a marine leisure tourism policy and the research that is on going. Ethna shared some of the tourism statistics around Adventure Tourism and how the marine leisure product is very much part of this growing tourism sector.