A unique management structure which co-ordinates marine and offshore activities in Clew Bay, Co Mayo, is helping to ensure that water quality in the area remains pristine.
The Clew Bay Marine Forum, which was set up three years ago and funded by Bord Iascaigh Mhara, the Marine Institute of Ireland and local affiliated members, is also identifying employment opportunities in the region, including the possibility of developing on-water historical tours of the 120-mile bay.
The forum held a public seminar in Westport yesterday to highlight its work.
A number of issues were discussed, ranging from the likely effects of locating a pipeline in the bay, piers and infrastructure, navigational marks, to the possibility of utilising the underwater landscape for diving and other adventure sports.
Unique in Europe, it contains submerged drumlins.
Mr Niall O'Boyle, project manager of the Clew Bay Marine Forum, said the forum was the first to look at the overall development of the bay.
Clew Bay is 15 miles long and eight miles wide and is said to contain 365 islands, one for every day of the year.
The forum grew from the need to provide a structure for all groups operating in and around Clew Bay.
It is developing in accordance with the integrated coastal zone management approach, which is to be imposed on Ireland under EU legislation.
The work of the forum is concentrated on ensuring that only environmentally friendly methods are used in all activities, while furthering conservation and sustaining stocks.
The forum includes members of inshore fisheries groups, the aquaculture industry, and chartered skippers.
However, there is also huge potential for onshore interests to become involved, particularly the tourism and leisure industries, Mr O'Boyle said.
He went on: "We are still in the identification process and push period to try and get something for sectors, so that each can have a nationally backed plan.
"Aquaculture, for example, has come in and utilised the skills people have and allowed them to live from them, and we are trying to maintain that for people who want to carry on living this way and to make sure the resource is sustainable.
"Our focus is that all the works are carried out by environmentally friendly methods. The greatest potential is in leisure and tourism.
"Existing individual operators are extremely good and knowledgeable, but there is a lack of co-ordination with the marine operators and the land-based operators that are feeding into the marine.
"Sea-angling is certainly one product but sightseeing, potential for diving and on-water historical tours should also be developed."