The Global Ocean Commission
FoundedFebruary 2013
Dissolved2016
TypeInternational organization
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
David Miliband
Jose Maria Figueres
Trevor Manuel
Websitewww.globaloceancommission.org
Global Ocean commissioners meeting in New York 2013.
Global Ocean Commission meeting New York, July 2013

The Global Ocean Commission was an international initiative between 2013 and 2016 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. The Commission originated as an initiative of the Pew Charitable Trust, in partnership with Somerville College at the University of Oxford[1] It launched in February 2013 and delivered its final report in February 2016.[2] The Commission 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. [3]

The Commission published its principal report and recommendations, "From Decline to Recovery: a Rescue Package for the Ocean",[4] in June 2014, and released a follow-up report, "The Future of Our Ocean: Next Steps and Priorities",[5] in February 2016.

Background

The Global Ocean Commission was launched in 2013[6] 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."[7] 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."[7] The high seas constitute 45% of the Earth’s surface and are essential to the health of the planet.[8]

Five key "drivers of ocean decline"[9] were identified by the Commission: rising demand for resources; technological advances; decline of fish stocks;[citation needed] 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."[10]

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.

Commissioners

Co-chairs

Commissioners

Global Ocean Commissioners at launch 2013.
Global Ocean Commissioners at launch 2013. From left: David Miliband, Obiageli 'Oby' Ezekwesili, Jose Maria Figueres

The Commissioners were supported by an International Secretariat consisting of:

Recommendations

The Global Ocean Commission’s 2014 report outlined a set of practical proposals[12] to address the five drivers of decline, reverse high seas degradation, and improve the system of governance, monitoring and compliance.

The Eight Proposals[13] are:

  1. A Sustainable Development Goal[14] for the Ocean[15]
  2. Governing the High Seas - Promoting care and recovery[16]
  3. No More Overfishing - Ending harmful high seas subsidies[17]
  4. Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing - Closing seas, ports and markets.
  5. Plastics - Keeping them out of the ocean[citation needed]
  6. Offshore Oil and Gas - Establishing binding safety standards and liability
  7. Global Ocean Accountability Board - Monitoring progress towards a healthy ocean
  8. Creating a High Seas Regeneration Zone.[18]

Threats facing the high seas

According to research examined by the Global Ocean Commission:

References

  1. ^ "Global Ocean Commission Launched" Archived 2013-04-25 at the Wayback Machine. Oxford University. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  2. ^ "New panel to scrutinise ocean governance". The Australian. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  3. ^ "About the Commission" Archived 2013-07-14 at the Wayback Machine. Global Ocean Commission. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
  4. ^ "From Decline to Recovery: A Rescue Package for the Ocean" (PDF). Global Ocean Commission. June 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  5. ^ "The Future of Our Ocean: Next Steps and Priorities" (PDF). Global Ocean Commission. February 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  6. ^ "Launch of the Commission" Archived 2013-07-14 at the Wayback Machine. Global Ocean Commission. Retrieved 2013-07-20.
  7. ^ a b "A Message from the Co-chairs, Global Ocean Commission". www.globaloceancommission.org. Archived from the original on 21 March 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  8. ^ "The high seas are too precious to be left to plunderers and polluters". The Guardian. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  9. ^ "Drivers of Decline, Global Ocean Commission". www.globaloceancommission.org. Archived from the original on 21 March 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  10. ^ "Mandate" Archived 2013-07-14 at the Wayback Machine. Global Ocean Commission. Retrieved 2013-07-20.
  11. ^ "The Commissioners" Archived 2013-07-14 at the Wayback Machine. Global Ocean Commission. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
  12. ^ "Ocean rescue plan has urgent five-year deadline to act: report". uk.news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  13. ^ "Proposals, Global Ocean Commission". www.globaloceancommission.org. Archived from the original on 21 March 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  14. ^ "Guest Article #42: SDG at Sea, Sustainable Development Policy & Practice, IISD Reporting Services". sd.iisd.org. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  15. ^ Lamy, Oby Ezekwesili, José María Figueres and Pascal (October 2015). "A Fish Called Development". Project Syndicate. Retrieved 11 March 2016.((cite web)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ Pavia, Will (22 January 2015). "Miliband calls for global treaty to halt despoilation of seas, The Times". The Times. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  17. ^ Goldenberg, Suzanne (23 June 2014). "Fuel subsidies 'drive fishing industry's plunder of the high seas'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  18. ^ "Governments should set 5-year deadline to save oceans from over-fishing -experts". Reuters. 24 June 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  19. ^ "World Review of Fisheries and Aquaculture 2010". UN Food and Agriculture Organization. Retrieved 2013-07-17.
  20. ^ "The Sunken Billions: The Economic Justification for Fisheries Reform". World Bank. Retrieved 2013-07-17.
  21. ^ Rijnsdorp, A. D.; Peck, M. A.; Engelhard, G. H.; Mollmann, C.; Pinnegar, J. K. (2009). "Resolving the effect of climate change on fish populations". ICES Journal of Marine Science. 66 (7): 1570. doi:10.1093/icesjms/fsp056.
  22. ^ Stramma, L.; Prince, E. D.; Schmidtko, S.; Luo, J.; Hoolihan, J. P.; Visbeck, M.; Wallace, D. W. R.; Brandt, P.; Körtzinger, A. (2011). "Expansion of oxygen minimum zones may reduce available habitat for tropical pelagic fishes" (PDF). Nature Climate Change. 2: 33–37. doi:10.1038/nclimate1304. hdl:10961/1538.
  23. ^ "Focus on Illegal Fishing: Commission Welcomes Project SCALE" Archived 2013-07-14 at the Wayback Machine. Global Ocean Commission. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
  24. ^ Ofori-Atta, Prince (20 August 2013). "We have banned slavery on land – how about the ocean? | Soapbox". www.theafricareport.com. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  25. ^ "Transnational Organized Crime in the Fishing Industry, 2011". UN Office on Drugs and Crime. Retrieved 2013-07-18.

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