Associated Projects

The INFOMAR programme works to ensure that data from both the INSS and INFOMAR is easily available and integrated with other relevant data sets in order to promote innovation and the development of value added products and decision support systems. Examples of projects supported through funding or participation by INFOMAR in this area include the development of the Irish Spatial Data Exchange, the IMAGIN project to develop a strategic framework for marine aggregates, and the MESH project to develop integrated habitat maps.

JIBS

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is leading the Joint Irish Bathymetric Survey Project (JIBS), approved under the INTERREG IIIA Programme, with the Marine Institute of Ireland as project partner. The objective of the JIBS Project is to promote joint action to survey the seabed in such a way as to satisfy the needs of many organisations.

The JIBS project commenced on 10 April 2007 and will completed by 30 June 2008.

IMAGIN

The Irish Sea Marine Aggregates Initiative (IMAGIN) started officially on Feb 3rd 2005, and is a 2-year project funded under the Ireland/Wales INTERREG IIIA Community Initiative Programme 2000-2006.

Aggregates (sand and gravel) are essential products for the development and maintenance of infrastructure. They are widely used in the construction industry to build homes, hospitals, schools, offices, bridges, roads and railways, etc. They are also used in coastal defence as a source material for beach replenishment.

MESH

The MESH Project began in 2004 and is made up of a consortium of twelve partners from five European countries led by the UK’s Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), with financial support from the EC’s INTERREG IIIB NWE Programme. The MESH partnership draws together scientific and technical habitat-mapping skills, expertise in data collation and its management, and proven practical experience in the use of seabed-habitat maps for environmental management within national regulatory frameworks.

MESH is an international marine habitat mapping programme that started in spring 2004