Founded February 2013 | Area served Worldwide | |
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Type International organization Key people David Miliband, Jose Maria Figueres, Trevor Manuel Website www.globaloceancommission.org |
The Global Ocean Commission was an international initiative that launched in February 2013 and delivered its final report in February 2016. The Commission worked to raise awareness, and promote action to address, the degradation of the ocean and help restore it to full health and productivity. Its focus was on the high seas, the vast ocean areas that lie beyond the Exclusive Economic Zones of individual states. Commissioners included senior political figures, business leaders and development specialists, and consulted and collaborated widely with a diverse group of constituencies, including ocean users, governments, scientists, economists, business leaders and trade unions.
Contents
The Commission published its principal report and recommendations, "From Decline to Recovery: a Rescue Package for the Ocean", in June 2014, and released a follow-up report, "The Future of Our Ocean: Next Steps and Priorities", in February 2016.
Background
The Global Ocean Commission was launched in 2013 in response to concerns that, when it comes to the global ocean: "Governance is woefully inadequate, and on the high seas, anarchy rules the waves." In their founding message, the co-Chairs stated that the Commission is "inspired by the opportunity that exists for the high seas to play a regenerative role in restoring whole ocean health, and by the potential of a small number of bold proposals to stimulate a cycle of recovery." The high seas constitute 45% of the Earth’s surface and are essential to the health of the planet.
Five key "drivers of ocean decline" were identified by the Commission: rising demand for resources; technological advances; decline of fish stocks; climate change (including ocean acidification), biodiversity and habitat loss; weak high seas governance.
The mandate of the Global Ocean Commission was to address these issues by formulating "politically and technically feasible short-, medium- and long-term recommendations."
The Commission originated as an initiative of the Pew Charitable Trust, in partnership with Somerville College at the University of Oxford, Adessium Foundation and Oceans 5. The Commission was supported by the Adessium Foundation, Oceans 5, and Pew Charitable Trusts, but was an independent entity.
Co-chairs
Commissioners
The Commissioners were supported by an International Secretariat consisting of:
Simon Reddy, Executive Secretary
Rémi Parmentier, Deputy Executive Secretary
Clare Brennan, Director of Operations
Kristian Teleki, Director of Global Engagement
Inés de Agueda, Communications and Policy Officer
Recommendations
The Global Ocean Commission’s 2014 report outlines a set of practical proposals to address the five drivers of decline, reverse high seas degradation, and improve the system of governance, monitoring and compliance.
The Eight Proposals are:
- A Sustainable Development Goal for the Ocean
- Governing the High Seas - Promoting care and recovery
- No More Overfishing - Ending harmful high seas subsidies
- Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing - Closing seas, ports and markets.
- Plastics - Keeping them out of the ocean
- Offshore Oil and Gas - Establishing binding safety standards and liability
- Global Ocean Accountability Board - Monitoring progress towards a healthy ocean
- Creating a High Seas Regeneration Zone.
Threats facing the high seas
According to research examined by the Global Ocean Commission: