Our oceans, our future, the high-level United Nations (UN) conference to support the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 has convened in New York this week. ICES has pledged two commitments in support of the conference: one on developing the science basis to assist ecosystem based management and the other to enhance marine science training and capacity building.
Support for SDG 14 was outlined in a statement made by Jörn Schmidt of the ICES Science Committee (SCICOM) during the 'Making Fisheries Sustainable' partnership dialogue session on Tuesday. Schmidt covered the ways in which ICES contributes to the goal: by providing the scientific evidence for decision-making via integrated ecosystem assessments (IEAs) and ecosystem overviews, addressing the impacts of ocean acidification, and assessing fish stocks in order to provide advice on the sustainable level of fishing activity.
ICES General Secretary Anne Christine Brusendorff gave a presentation on multilateral science-policy partnerships at a side event organized by JPI Oceans in cooperation with NOAA, IOC-UNESCO, and ICES. The briefing showcased cutting-edge examples of research to support ocean governance as well as discussed the future role of science for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Representatives from ICES also joined the LME:Learn governance working group meeting in New York. LME:LEARN aims to improve global ecosystem-based governance of Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) and their coasts by generating knowledge, building capacity, harnessing public and private partners, and supporting learning. The group is developing materials which will be used for training purposes globally.
The UN Ocean Conference is taking place at the UN Headquarters in New York from 5 to 9 June. The Governments of Fiji and Sweden are co-hosting the conference.
