ISMLKN aims to develop an integrated Irish Sea marine leisure sector to provide a knowledge based network for the industry. The project will take a 4-strand integrated approach, with the following objectives: Marine Leisure Industry (MLI) Sector Commercial Development • Pan-Irish Sea research to establish private sector commercial needs• Further research into skills needs, in partnership with education bodies (eg. Marine Colleges, HE & FE Institutes, etc.), to identify detailed need & gaps• Develop & deliver sector-specific commercial support, using both internal resource & where appropriate, external resource available from Ireland/ Wales structural business development programmes• Develop & introduce industry-led training & up skilling packages in partnership with marine colleges, vocational training consultancies & specialist bodies ( led by NWW)• Act as catalyst to industry growth, including integration with other aspects of marine leisure, sector-specific training, clusters, best practice, entrepreneurial development, etc. Marine Events and Festivals • Mapping of existing maritime events• Explore opportunities for development of existing & new events• Identify & quantify economic impact of events to MLI & regions• Marine events & competitions management resource development Collaborative Marketing and Communications • Establish ISMLKN, incl. on-line knowledge resource & website, using internal & external resources, via www.irish-sea.org• Joint marketing & promotion of project to the industry, public sector, & stakeholders• Ongoing communications with the industry, public sector & stakeholders• Engagement with associated bodies to project (eg. Visit Wales, Failté Ireland, British Marine Federation, RYA, marine colleges, communities, Irish Marine Federation, IMOA, ISA, IUC) Identifying Opportunities for Growth • Research & input of MLIs contribution to Irish Sea Marine Leisure policy at top level• Input MLIs contribution to ICZM policy at top level• Identify, collate & assess MLIs impact on eco & socio development• Collate & analyse existing data on pan-Irish Sea MLI & identify gaps