For the first time in history, cross-sectorial private industry interests will gather next year for a World Summit on how to address ocean environmental challenges.
The meeting on “Corporate Ocean Responsibility”, to be arranged in Belfast, Northern Ireland in June next year, is staged by the World Ocean Council (WOC), a US-registered, Honolulu-based alliance of interests from fisheries, aquaculture, shipping, oil and gas, tourism, marine technology and other ocean-related braches.
“Companies and industry associations around the world are expressing strong interest in coordinated international private sector leadership on ocean environmental and governance issues”, noted WOC Executive Director Paul Holthus, adding that many companies see the business benefits and sustainable development value in collaborative efforts on Corporate Ocean Responsibility.
The theme for the meeting on June 15-17 will be “Reducing Risk, Increasing Sustainability: Solutions through Collaboration”, and the main conference sessions will address priorities for cross-sectoral ocean industry action, including climate change and ocean science, biosecurity and invasive species, and fisheries and aquaculture interaction with other industries.
