Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth (HOOW) is Ireland’s Integrated Marine Plan (IMP), published in mid2012, setting out a roadmap for the Government’s vision, high-level goals and integrated actions across policy, governance and business to enable our marine potential to be realised. The implementation of the Plan will see Ireland evolve an integrated system of policy and programme planning for marine affairs. Ireland’s ocean is a national asset, supporting a diverse marine economy, with vast potential to tap into the global marine market for seafood, tourism, oil and gas, renewable ocean energy, training, maritime security and new applications for health, medicine and technology.

Ireland’s marine resources also provide essential non-commercial benefits such as amenity, biodiversity and our mild climate. Ireland’s marine ecosystems (i.e. offshore, inshore and coastline) are home to a rich and diverse range of species and habitats. This national asset offers significant potential for Ireland’s marine sector and needs to be protected, managed and developed for and by our citizens. The Government is determined to ensure that our ocean wealth will be a key component of our economic recovery and sustainable growth, generating benefits for all our citizens.