The December edition of MARITIME IRELAND discusses whether – for all the time, money and effort, spent on extensive maritime scientific research – are scientists properly communicating to the general public what they have discovered? The Chief Executive of the Marine Institute, Dr.Paul Connolly; and the man who is leading the European Commission’s research on the oceans, Dr.John Bell, its Healthy Planet Director, who is from Dublin, discuss the question. Also interviewed on the programme is the Master of the Lundy Sentinel, the European Fisheries Control Agency’s inspection vessel, Alistair Hamilton. The Executive Chairman of the Sea Fisheries Protection Agency, Paschal Hayes and the Executive Director of the European Agency, Dr.Susan Steele, are interviewed about the new remote electronic monitoring system to be put on board fishing vessels. Travel writer and author Jasper Winn explains what is the “immersive book” he is writing for the Cork traditional boat organisation, Meitheal Mar. The Christmastime story of the amazing rescue of a child from a sinking Irish ferry is told and there’s a sparkling “shanty for singing” sung by a Belfast folk-singer who lives on a barge in County Roscommon. As always, a lively, varied and interesting maritime programme.
