Planning Ireland's marine space
Scientific evidence for sustainable marine planning
The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment is the competent authority for Ireland's marine spatial planning process and National Marine Planning Framework.
What the Marine Institute contributes
The Marine Institute's role is to provide evidence, data services, scientific advice, outreach and research support.
Scientific evidence
Marine data and scientific information help inform planning, assessment and policy decisions.
Technical advice
Expertise supports designated maritime area plans and other marine planning processes.
Education and outreach
Schools, third-level audiences and the public can access marine planning resources and learning support.
Research collaboration
Marine Institute researchers participate in national and international marine planning projects and working groups.
Evidence base
Data and evidence used in marine spatial planning
Marine spatial planning uses multiple evidence categories to understand activity, pressure and opportunity in the maritime area.
Environmental and ecological
Habitats, species, ecosystem condition, protected areas and environmental sensitivity.
Maritime uses and activities
Existing and planned uses such as fisheries, aquaculture, shipping, energy and recreation.
Socioeconomic and cultural
Economic value, community uses, cultural heritage and social considerations.
Governance and legal
Policy, legislation, designations and consenting context.
Physical and geophysical
Bathymetry, seabed substrate, metocean conditions and geophysical evidence.
Digital tools
Tools and data services
These services help users find evidence, data and information for marine spatial planning.
Marine Institute Data Catalogue
Find datasets and metadata for planning and research evidence.
Ireland's Marine Atlas
View spatial layers and maps relevant to the maritime area.
Ocean Economy Dashboard
Explore economic evidence on Ireland's ocean economy.
Oceanus Library
Find publications, reports and research outputs.
MarinePlan.ie
Access project information and marine planning resources.
Related resources
Related resources provide further context on marine planning, mapping and evidence-led decision-making.
MarinePlan
Download a MarinePlan case study resource.
Seabed Mapping
Download a seabed mapping case study resource.
Contact marine planning
For marine spatial planning outreach, education or research queries, contact the Marine Institute team.