Marine Institute congratulates EU Commissioner on receiving German Ocean Award

CEO of the Marine Institute, Dr Peter Heffernan, congratulates EU Commissioner Karmenu Vella on receiving the prestigious German Ocean Award 2018, in recognition for his work to protect the world's oceans.

European Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Karmenu Vella, was presented the German Ocean Award 2018 at a ceremony earlier this week.

The German Ocean Award, awarded by the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, is awarded to well-known individuals who have shown commitment to preserving and protecting the world's oceans or communicating knowledge and educating the public about our oceans.

EU Commissioner Vella has worked intensively for the protection and sustainable use of the oceans. In particular, he has sought to contain illicit fishing and negotiate biodiversity protection in international waters.

Recently at the Our Ocean Conference, the European Commission announced €300 million of EU-funded initiatives, for projects to tackle plastic pollution, make the blue economy more sustainable and improve research and marine surveillance. At the Our Ocean Conference 2017, over €550 million was committed by the European Union.

Dr Peter Heffernan congratulated Commissioner Vella on receiving the prestigious German Ocean Award. "Commissioner Vella has made an outstanding contribution to preserving and increasing our understanding of our oceans, and has given great support to Ireland's activities in seabed mapping, ocean observation and growing the blue economy," Dr Heffernan said.

The German Ocean Award is awarded by the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel and sponsored by the Deutsche Bank under the patronage of the Prime Minister of Schleswig-
Holstein.

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