Marine to devolve some tasks to other agencies

THE Department of the Marine intends to shed some of its workload and devolve certain responsibilities to other agencies. Management transfer of the State's fishery harbours may be one of the first options taken, according to the Department's strategy statement which has just been published.

Local authorities and other agencies working closely with the Department may be asked to assume other functions "where appropriate", the statement says. Now 10 years old, the Department is still one of the smallest, but has one of the widest remits to cover a 2,700-mile coastline and extensive inland lakes and waterways.

In spite of its heavy workload, the Department of the Marine identifies its relatively miniscule size as an advantage in its strategy statement.

This facilitates "co-ordination and a focused and consistent approach to policy-making", the document says. It lists a "dedicated and committed workforce" with "well-established team-work", because of the interdisciplinary nature of marine management.

Working relationships with the six other departments closely associated with marine are "good", the statement says, but it is considering a "more structured" liaison, similar to the high-level liaison group already established with the Department of Defence. It is also considering a more formal arrangement with relevant non-governmental organisations.

Citing technical skills as one of its strengths, the Department of the Marine says it has a "strong knowledge base" in air-sea rescue, marine emergency management and co-ordination. It identifies the need for a more strategic and structured approach to management, and considerable legislative and policy gaps, as weaknesses. A growing recognition of the importance of the marine resource and its potential for "enriching the economic and social life of the nation" is identified as a major opportunity.

However, the statement also warns that conflicts over development may make the public management role more difficult. With "change and growth" in the marine sector, policy choice tensions may become more pronounced and "difficult choices" will have to be confronted. It says pressure on fish stocks and the lack of scale and fragmentation in the fishing sector is a threat to competitiveness.

The statement takes a cautious approach to the Common Fisheries Policy, which is due for review by the European Union in 2002. It aims to support an increase in fish landings, improved co-ordination and management of fisheries protection, a fundamental review of the Fisheries Acts by 1999, new management arrangements for fishery harbour centres and development of a comprehensive national salmon management strategy.

On maritime transport, it aims to ensure networks develop in a co-ordinated way, and to maintain the role of important sub-regional ports in addition to the major gateways. On coastal zone management, it aims to complete a review of the current and very outdated Foreshore Acts by the end of 1999. On safety, it intends to develop communication and marine rescue capabilities further and to ensure that a complete helicopter search and rescue infrastructure covers the entire coastline. On research, the key objective is finalising an integrated plan with the Marine Institute by "mid-1997".

The statement was published by the Minister for the Marine, Mr Barrett, and Minister of State, Mr Eamon Gilmore,