A five-year marine research strategy costing £30 million could create 7,000 jobs in coastal communities and generate an extra £430 million for the economy, the Marine Institute says.

Presenting the plan to the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Dr Woods, yesterday, the Marine Institute identified food, technology and tourism and leisure as areas of potential development. These areas already contribute £940 million annually to the economy and support more than 32,000 jobs, the institute claims.

The strategy proposes a phased increase in annual investment in marine research above the current base of £10.3 million to £18.8 million by the year 2003.

The additional £30 million over five years would be used to acquire key national marine research, technology development and innovation infrastructure, and to double investment in associated programmes, technical and management services, and other activities, it says.

Funding would come from a variety of sources, including the Exchequer, EU structural funds and framework programmes, international partnerships, joint funding with the private sector and earned income from sale of services, the strategy says. Accepting the plan yesterday in Dublin, the Minister, Dr Woods, said the Government was committed to ensuring the full potential of the marine sector was realised.

For the first time ever, a national programme for marine research, endorsed by the Government, was now in place, he said, and he intended to seek the necessary funding to implement it.