November 3 2003

Dear Niall

Many thanks for the proposal 'Mariculture Harvest - Community Investment International' and for the very informative meeting earlier in the summer.

As discussed with you in Galway the Martin Ryan Institute at NUI Galway fully endorses the proposal and are very happy to be part of this exciting initiative.

As you know the marine sector is a key driver for many of our coastal communities and one of our aims is to foster and promote development of this resource, from economic, environmental and socio-economic perspectives. The proposed programme from Friendships Without Borders seems to encapsulate all of these elements and we are very happy to be involved in such an initiative with both cross border and international applications.

There is clearly an opportunity for student exchagne at the early stages of this project and we look forward to working with you and colleagues in striving to achieve the very worthwhile and beneficial aspirations of the proposal.

Kind regards

[signed]
Professor M.D. Guiry

This letter was in response to the FWB proposal of 9/10/03 below.

March 18 2003, a meeting was held at the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED). Organized by Dr Niall Mac Allister, President Friendships Without Borders Inc., (FWB), a non-profit community health and development agency with the assistance of Bill Askanazi (DBED), Craig Williams and John Murray, Staff Chief, Governor Ehrlich's Office. Also attending, Representatives of DBED, Peter O'Neill, Director, Francis Reaves, of the Port of Baltimore, Ireland Exports, Enterprise Ireland, Northern Ireland Trade, Irish Embassy, also via Tele-communications Trans Atlantic Associates Shipping Associates, Ulster University, the Martin Ryan Institute, University College Galway, Depts., of Marine Biotechnology, all in communication with University of Maryland Marine Biotechnology Institute. Goals for increased community and institutional exchange - for addressing shared problems in Marine Harvest pollution - community development through revival of the Crustacean and other seafood resource between both communities.

In the following weeks April to August 2003, meetings took place - in Ireland with Director, Professor Michael Guiry, Mgr., Declan Clarke, Martin Ryan Institute, Galway, with Professor Tony Andrew, University of Ulster Marine Biotechnology, Portstewart, N. Ireland also with U. Ulster Economist, Michael Smyth. The outcome of these exchanges was conveyed to Professor Jonathon Zohar, Ric Tysor, Director of University of Maryland Marine Biotechnology - also to John Bradley, Professor Economic Policy ESRI, Dublin and advisor or consultant to the Irish and to N.Irish Government Policy. Uniform agreement with the goals described by FWB and their wider implications for the Institutions, the communities and the regional economic viability of the projected study, for the analysis and steps to restructure this historic and vital community resource were endorsed. A further meeting stressing points of consensus - common goals, took place with Tony Andrew, with Craig Cook of REACT, regional development agency and with Francis Gallagher, Youth Career Consultant from Newry took place in September in Newry.

The focus - in partnership between Ireland north to south Institutions, with Baltimore Marine Biotech, enhancement of the crustacean or other seafood harvest programs - proposals for increasing sea trade Ireland to Baltimore were also discussed - TransAtlantic Shipping expressing a keen interest in this latter area of concern. The Seafood Harvest Program addressed through Academic Partnership - community and government support - also as a source of enhancement of the business opportunity represented. This addressed in a preliminary note from Professor Tony Andrew, Ulster U., March 18 mtg in Baltimore - enlarged upon at the subsequent meeting in Newry, September, '03. This, also addressing real socio-economic present and potential impact of Marine Resource by Mgr Declan Clarke, Professor Michael Guiry of Martin Ryan Inst., U.C.G. In Ireland contributes close to two billion pounds to the Irish economy - is also source of over 30,000 jobs to this region alone. These figures significantly increased in the All Ireland context north to south and greater still for the Baltimore, Chesapeake Bay communities. More urgent, this resource represents a historic and traditional business enterprise for both these regions. In the broader picture has a major impact on community health and development - from tourist enterprise to health food factors to Biotechnology innovation and research enterprise - it's national and international market potential. As Professor Rosemary Jagus, recently appointed liaison from UMBI expressed it 'what exactly do we need to do to 'get things moving'.

Professor Andrew's thoughts more specifically on the mariculture factors in marine harvest conservation and revival.(September '03)

Thoughts on possible oyster rehabilitation and it's future.

Background
European flat oysters (native to western Europe) are the traditional preferred species for the European market. They have suffered a dramatic population decline over the past 25 years. This decline resulted from the accidental introduction of protozoal disease (Bonamia ostrea) into the Gironde estuary (France) in 1979. This disease generates a mortality in populations of 80 to 90% or more making oyster fishing economically unviable. The disease appears to spread with oyster stock movement but the exact mechanism is not well understood. The spread of the disease has removed all but three significant oyster fisheries from Europe. One of these, the Galician fishery, is based on raft culture avoiding the infection by marketing smaller oysters. These are unacceptable for the general European market. The other uninfected fisheries reside in Bergen, Norway and Lough Foyle. The traditional French, Dutch, Irish, Portugese and UK fisheries are effectively finished. The market is short of at least 80,000 tonnes per annum. This has largely been replaced by culture of Pacific oysters.

Consequences
As the more desirable species, native oysters have a socio-economic potential to the value of this niche in the European market.

This could be partially filled by enhancing existing or historical fisheries that are now moribund or under exploited. This would have to be done ensuring the disease is not introduced into these environments. Such environments in the North of Ireland include, Lough Foyle, Carlingford Lough, Strangford Lough, Lough Swilly, Milford etc., The restocking and enhancement should be carried out in a variety and combination of ways, including spat production and seeding, rehabilitation of existing beds and creation of new beds, reduction of competition from other species such as mussel farming etc.

Secondly, efforts should be put into either the search for a disease resistant strain capable of enhancing local environments and restocking disease infected sites throughout Ireland and Europe or examining the possibility of creating a disease resistant strain for the same purpose. This may be possible by, for example taking a gene from another species not susceptible to Bonamia. It would require test probes to detect the early influence of the disease.

Some of these objectives are readily, easily achievable given a willingness of the community to accept minimal control of the fisheries. This may for instance be implemented by local co-operatives and the Loughs Agency which now has responsibility for Foyle and Carlingford. The search for or creation of a disease resistant strain has potentially enormous economic and social rewards beyond Ireland. Much of this, I would hope, would be ploughed back into the community and for further research work on this, and related problems.

Of critical importance in research and biodiversity terms is the immediate protection of conservation of the Foyle system.

Funding necessary for initial steps in this project including the further step in 'Student Exchange' Baltimore to Irish communities, Galway to Northern Ireland sites is outlined. This subject to input of individual institutions in each community, their investmen in regional Mariculture and community development.

Analysis would include following factors.

1. Analysis of present 'depletion factors' - contamination of Marine Harvest - review of State and government agency standards - their application - their redundancy or insufficiency in assessing contamination factors in selected areas of marine resource. How the missing factors may be addressed. Cost analysis for study - estimated savings for redress problems
2. Marine Crustacean and other seafood farming innovations - how they might address the current problems. Cost of implementing necessary modifications.
3. Advantages of proposed innovations i.e., in artificial reef harvesting and seeding methods for protection of crustacean or other seafood species. Cost of implementation.
4. Community exchange i.e., students from junior to senior levels to Ph.D., representing allied areas of interest - in Health Care, in Economics, in Political Science, in Sociology, in Marine Biotechnology - an ongoing study of - eg Resources - Quality Standards - impact on Health Care - employment and economic impact - dietary and disease prevention - the degree of industrial and nuclear contaminants and how to address these factors. Student cost - travel, accommodation etc.
5. All playing a major role in refocusing from the inherent conflict provoked by disparities or discrimination to creating and sharing presently unidentified existing actual or potential resources. Cost profile of establishing partnership international versus projected profit profile
6. Friendships Without Borders Inc., (FWB) role - it's established international links in community health and development, in Sociology, Conflict Resolution, Economics and it's 'team' for assisting in international business development contacts - it's commitment to maintain focus on long range goals international - equal community socio-economic cooperation, opportunity and development - community health and 'heal' - FWB to sustain overall objectives - restoring and expanding scope of natural and historic business resources. This only achieved through recruiting a business to academic to 'community voice' partnership and political representation of objectives.
7. Involvement with Baltimore's 'Urban Health Program' - the established links between the seafood dietary resource and other implications. A social and health care advocacy International - partners in the new 'Global Village' of the European Community. The U.S. to Ireland north to south - enhancing the potential single economic resource - it's uniquely positive impact on the developing EU and world markets.
8. Ultimate goals a self supporting international consortium or business partnership in seafood marketing and development. Tax incentives sought for input from Biotechnology company involvement - as in the 'community team concept'

COST estimated initial yearly projections (subject to modification in accordance with immediate and projected final plans) ie for institutional or grant funding.

Student program - student travel, sustenance, accommodation etc.,- student supervision, monitoring and instruction - initially, six or more students per year in exchange program from each community for the one to three month summer months 'vacation period'. A responsible involvement contributing to study, analysis of market, product, relation to realm of communal health, negative effects of Maslow's deprivation factors in social understanding, the students ultimate role in the community.

                                                             Estimated cost $5,000 per student
Mentor and guidance for each guidance.                                       $ 750 per
Academic Center study design and implementation                            $50,000/FTE
Input from Academic Centres - facilities, secretarial, materials,          $10,000
Economist/Business Investment Consult - U.U., ESRI., FWB                   $10,000/input 
Computer studies, materials supervision and instruction                    $10,000/FTE
Cost impact on partner role in travel etc.,                                 $2,000
FWB - organizing, maintaining inter Institutional partnership              $10,000/Consult 
Unit Supervision shared goals                                              $30,000/FTE
                                                                                 
Core costs (include per FTE, Consult Unit etc.,) initial total of above - $167,000 plus

Additional areas for study - extending findings to broader aspects of Community Health and cooperative studies.

Funding INPUT sought from Government Agencies, benefiting from modified regulations re control of contaminants etc.

                        (circa)                                            $75,000
Regional Community Resources                                               $14,000
From private granting agencies                                             $60,000
From Industrial partners etc., ie involved in contamination risk factors   $25,000
From Academic Institutional resources                                      50,000/FT E
Plus (circa)                                                             $167,000

Niall P. Mac Allister MD FWB
Francis Gallagher FWB Conflict Resolution
Colm McClean FWB Business Investment Ireland etc.
Seamus McCartan FWB
Michael Smyth U.U.
Craig Cook REACT
Anne McGeeney, Director DKIT
Tony Andrew U. Ulster
Declan Clarke, Development Mgr.,
Michael Guiry, Director
Rosemary Jagus, UMBI
Brid Quilty, Director Dublin City University
9-10-03

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