eFORESEE Malta Marine Pilot

Towards enhancing the Marine sector's contribution to the Maltese Economy in 2020

Launch Seminar - 6th May 2003

The Malta Council for Science and Technology organized a one-day Seminar to launch the marine foresight activity within the framework of the eFORESEE project. The launch was held on 6th May 2003 at Villa Bighi, Kalkara.

The Marine Foresight Pilot targets to look at the current relevance of the marine-related industries and services to our economic welfare, and assess how the various marine areas can be optimally redressed and sustainably exploited through emerging science and technology, in order to meet the future needs of an evolving knowledge-driven society and a vibrant and diversified economy projected in 2020. It also underpins the essential management and development strategies necessary to secure an adequate and timely delivery. The process will avail of a panel of selected local experts and a wide consultation with key stakeholders.

The Launch Seminar, as the first public awareness-raising and consultation event of the pilot project, brought together a spectrum of participants including representatives from Ministries relevant to marine affairs; Governmental agencies, and authorities; leading marine scientists; representatives of the marine research management community; and the marine industries and services sector.

The Seminar was officially opened by Mr Paul Attard, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Mr Wilfred Kenely, the Chief Executive Officer of the Malta Council for Science and Technology.

Dr. Jennifer Cassingena Harper, Director of the Policy Unit at MCST, gave an overview of the eForesee Project which is a two-year European Union-funded project involving foresight exercises in three candidate countries: Malta, Cyprus and Estonia (eforesee.info/malta). eForesee addresses challenges faced by policy-makers in implementing foreseen activities and focuses on the potential role of foresight in dealing with the structural changes to the economy that accompany the accession process, as well as the integration of accession states into a European research area.

Dr Aldo Drago, Director of Research at the IOI-Malta Operational Centre of the University of Malta and responsible for the coordination of the Marine Pilot, presented a detailed introduction to the scope of the pilot project, and described the methodology for implementation. At a crucial turning point in our history when the country is preparing to join the European Union, and embarking to achieve ambitious socio-economic and political targets, a forward looking disposition is necessary to grasp opportunities and fully perform the potential in the development of a marine economy. Building on existing strengths and capitalising on well planned developments, the future of the maritime sector holds the promise of hitherto inaccessible avenues of expansion, with unique contributions to the economic strength of our country.

The project aims to address the key bearings for the future of the marine sector, basing on possible scenarios of socio-ecomonic developments, and on the expected external forcings especially from international factors. The constraints and pressure on the restricted available land space might make Malta decide to better use its much larger marine space such as for short sea routes, and pollution-free production of energy from wind and waves. Building a reputation for Malta towards a high-quality marine and coastal environment will provide a competitive edge in the fields of marine food and tourism. The wide and diverse range of economic activities sustained by the marine resource is expected to increase, and this will be supported by an improved knowledge of the sea through dedicated observation networks, and by a more advanced technological capability which will, in turn, lead to better management and use of marine resources. Strategic questions and likely impacts from key issues will also be considered during the project, including how EU membership will affect the importance of the marine sector in relation to national economic development, how to secure public understanding on the importance of the marine sector on the local economy, and how to promote private-public partnerships to improve the marine sector.

During the Launch Seminar a number of other presentations by key experts in the marine sector in Malta dealt with Marine Resource Management, the Contribution of the Marine Resources to the Maltese Economy, the Water-based Tourism and Leisure Sector, the Impact on Port and the Maritime Industry, the State of the Marine Environment, Renewable Energy in the Marine Environment, the Role of Education in promoting the sustainable use of marine resources, and meeting international commitments in this sector. During the project these experts will work, with feedbacks from a wide consultation process, to produce a Marine Foresight Document aiming to provide a comprehensive vision to the future of the marine sector, and serving as a tool to coordinate and synergise initiatives. The project will also initiate a National Marine Strategy Group that will target to continue to provide advise to government possibly under the aegis of the National Commission for Sustainable Development.