Speaking on board the RV Celtic Explorer, one of the vessels involved in the programme, minister Power said: "With over 220 million acres of our national territory lying beneath the sea, many of the potential benefits from this resource are as yet unrealised.

"The INFOMAR project is now discovering those resources and making information on them available online.

"This website will have benefits for a wide spectrum of activities from navigation, safety at sea, fisheries management and seabed resource management.

"As minister with responsibility for both the information society and natural resources, I am delighted to see the INFOMAR project placing information delivery at the heart of its operations."

Minister Power also paid tribute to all of those involved in the project, which is jointly managed by the Geological Survey of Ireland and the Marine Institute.

"INFOMAR, along with its predecessor, the Irish National Seabed Survey, constitutes the largest civilian marine mapping programme worldwide and they have truly made Ireland a leader in this field of endeavour," continued Mr Power.

"There is a significant level of coordination required by both organisations, scientists, and the crews of the ships, boats and planes to bring this project to fruition and I heartily congratulate all involved."

The INFOMAR programme has just concluded operations in Donegal and Sligo Bays on board the Marine Institute vessel RV Celtic Voyager.

In addition to ship-based surveys, aerial LiDAR sweeps have been completed in recent weeks in parts of Galway and Tralee Bays together with portions of Lough Foyle.

John Evans, joint programme manager of the INFOMAR programme from the Marine Institute, said: “Together with our colleagues in the Geological Survey we are delighted with the progress we have made to mapping our in-shore area.

"These bays are extremely challenging to survey and we encourage all to view the data via the www.infomar.ie website.”

Meanwhile, The Marine Institute’s SmartBay system — a network of surface and sub-surface buoys, cables and communications systems designed to provide real time information about the environment in Galway Bay and to support and stimulate the environmental technology industry sector in Ireland — has been selected as one of the first collaborative projects to be undertaken at the new IBM Centre of Excellence for Water Management.

The new IBM facility, which was opened in Dublin yesterday by the minister for Finance, Mr Brian Lenihan T.D., is a partnership between the computer giant and the Industrial Development Agency of Ireland (IDA Ireland).

It will focus primarily on innovative research and services in monitoring, quality control, and management of fresh water, marine and oceanic environments.

IBM's involvement in water management is part of its 'Big Green Innovations' initiative dedicated to energy and environmental issues. SmartBay is currently under development at the Marine Institute’s Galway Bay research facility.

Speaking at yesterday's announcement, the minister said: “Choosing Ireland as the preferred location for this global research centre is a significant strategic win for IBM Ireland and IDA Ireland.

"It enhances Ireland’s reputation globally as a research and development location for emerging “Green Technology” investments and is in line with IDA’s strategy of winning high-value knowledge-based research and development investments from leading technology companies.

"It also positions IBM Ireland at the centre of IBM’s emerging business strategy.

"This investment by IBM is extremely important for Ireland, ensuring further diversification of IBM'S Dublin Technology Campus Operations.”

www.fishupdate.com is published by Special Publications. Special Publications also publish FISHupdate magazine, Fish Farmer, the Fish Industry Yearbook, the Scottish Seafood Processors Federation Diary, the Fish Farmer Handbook and a range of wallplanners.

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