Sustainable Ocean Summit in Belfast

International associations representing a wide variety of ocean industries will meet together in the first “Roundtable of Ocean Industry Association Leaders,” which is being held as part of the Sustainable Ocean Summit in Belfast, 16-17 June 2009.

Confirmed Roundtable participants include directors and senior managers of: Oil and Gas Producers Association (OGP), International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA), International Association of Dredging Contractors (IADC), International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (INTERTANKO), International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC), International Energy Agency: Ocean Energy Systems (IEA:OES), with additional association participants anticipated.

The Sustainable Ocean Summit (SOS) is the first global cross-sectoral ocean sustainability conference bringing together shipping, oil and gas, aquaculture, tourism, fisheries, ports, dredging, mining, tankers, maritime finance and insurance, offshore renewable energy, and other ocean-related industries.

With the theme of “Reducing Risk, Increasing Sustainability: Solutions through Collaboration”, SOS is an unparalleled private sector gathering focused on addressing marine environmental challenges in ways that support sustainable development and responsible business operations. “SOS participants will have an exceptional opportunity to interact with ocean industry associations and like-minded colleagues from a wide range of marine industries,” said Paul Holthus Executive Director of the World Ocean Council.

The conference will open on June 16th 2009 with the “Roundtable of Ocean Industry Association Leaders,” a forum for the diverse international ocean business community. The roundtable will identify cross-cutting issues, define needs and opportunities for cross-sectoral leadership, and highlight priorities for collaboration. Industry associations not yet participating in the roundtable are encouraged to contact the World Ocean Council as soon as possible, as space is limited.

The main SOS conference program addresses cross-sectoral ocean industry sustainability issues including: greenhouse gas emissions, marine protected areas, marine spatial planning, the Arctic, ocean noise, vessel interactions with marine mammals, invasive species, marine debris, role of the maritime finance, insurance and legal industries, and the decommissioning of ships and structures. Leading companies will highlight innovative solutions to these challenges. Conferences sessions will develop World Ocean Council programs to address shared industry challenges in the marine environment.

The conference wraps up with a plenary roundtable on “Ocean Industry Image”, a session focused on how to improve the communication of positive industries efforts on ocean environmental challenges and increase the understanding of ocean industries among the media, NGOs and the public.
Register for the Sustainable Ocean Summit at www.oceancouncil.org.