Global Forum on
Oceans, Coasts,
and Islands
©PEMSEA
Advancing the
Global Oceans Agenda
Through 2016
Background
implementation of the WSSD ocean targets and of the 1994
Barbados Programme of Action for SIDS; reports on ocean
The Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands was
issues in island states; reports on capacity development needs
first mobilized in 2001 to help the world's governments
on ocean and coastal management in different world regions;
highlight issues related to oceans, coasts, and Small Island
and provided a series of Internet information services,
Developing States (SIDS) on the agenda of the 2002 World
including periodic newsletters.
Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), and was later
formalized at the WSSD in Johannesburg. The Global Forum
Strategic Oceans Planning to 2016
is a response to perceived needs:
In late 2006, the Global Forum began a strategic planning
for fostering cross-sectoral dialogue on ocean issues
effort in collaboration with governments, United Nations
among governments, NGOs, international organizations,
agencies, NGOs, industry, and scientific groups, to advance
and the private and scientific sectors
the global oceans agenda over the ten-year period to 2016.
for constant advocacy for oceans at the highest
Twelve Multinational Expert Working Groups, involving
political levels
254 experts from 72 countries, have been organized on three
major themes based on the WSSD targets on oceans, coasts,
for taking an ecosystem-based and integrated approach to
and SIDS, also considering a number of overarching, cross-
oceans governance at national, regional, and global levels,
cutting issues, as shown in the chart on page 2.
including treating the water system from freshwater, to
coasts, to oceans as the interlinked system
The Working Groups have prepared a set of Policy Briefs
that it is.
addressing:
Since 2001, the Global Forum has involved ocean experts
· The major problems/obstacles that affect the issue area and
representing all sectors from 105 countries to advance the
ways of overcoming these
global oceans agenda by: 1) promoting the implementation of
· How the global ocean goal/target under consideration
international agreements related to oceans, coasts, and SIDS,
can be assessed and progress (or lack thereof) measured;
especially the goals emanating from the 2002 WSSD; 2) ana-
the extent to which intermediate and readily measurable
lyzing new emerging issues such as improving the governance
targets and timetables might be set as implementation
regime for ocean areas beyond national jurisdiction and
benchmarks; and the relationship of the ocean goal/target
addressing the impacts of climate change; and 3) promoting
to other global ocean goals/targets
international consensus-building on unresolved ocean issues.
· Strategic opportunities for advancing the global goal/
The Global Forum has organized four Global Conferences
target in the next decade, by whom, and in what fora
(in 2001, 2003, and 2006 at UNESCO in Paris and in 2008 in
Hanoi, Vietnam); organized the Ocean Policy Summit in
· Recommendations on 3-5 specific priority action steps for
Lisbon in 2005 documenting experiences with integrated
implementation by national and international decision-
oceans governance in countries and regions around the
makers to advance the issue in the next phase.
world; prepared a number of "report cards" on the
Vietnam
ROKorea
Indonesia
CANADA
FlemishGovernment,
Belgium

---

Global Forum Working Groups Matrix
Theme 1: Achieving Ecosystem
Theme 2: Climate, Oceans, and Security
Theme 3: Governance of Marine
Management and Integrated Coastal
Ecosystems and Uses in Areas
and Ocean Management by 2010
·
Coordinating Group on Theme 2:
Beyond National Jurisdiction
Cross-Cutting Issues
·
Coordinating Group on Theme 1:
·
Vulnerable Communities
·
Coordinating Group on Theme 3:
Cross-Cutting Issues
Cross-Cutting Issues
--Adaptation
·
Large Marine Ecosystems
--Environmental Refugees
·
Overall Governance Issues
·
Marine Biodiversity and Marine
--Public Health
·
Ecosystems and Uses
Protected Areas (MPAs)
·
Vulnerable Ecosystems
--Marine Biodiversity
·
Freshwater, Oceans, and Coasts
--Natural Disasters
--Fisheries
·
Fisheries and Aquaculture
--Sea Level Rise
--Bioprospecting
·
Maritime Transportation
--Ocean Acidification
--Deep Seabed Mining
--Ocean Warming
--Tourism
·
Small Island Developing States
--Maritime Transportation
(SIDS) and the Mauritius Strategy
Overarching, Cross-Cutting Issues
·
Capacity Development
·
Indicators for Progress
·
Compliance and Enforcement
·
Public Education/Outreach/Media
The following policy briefs are available on the Global
·Policy Brief on Small Island Developing States and
Forum website:
Implementation of the Mauritius Strategy
Link: http://www.globaloceans.org/globalconferences
·Policy Brief on Climate, Oceans, and Security
/2008/pdf/SIDS-and-Mauritius-Strategy-PB-April2.pdf
Link: http://www.globaloceans.org/globalconferences
/2008/pdf/Climate-and-Oceans-PB-April2.pdf
·Policy Brief on Freshwater and Oceans
Link: http://www.globaloceans.org/globalconferences
·Policy Brief on Achieving Ecosystem-Based
/2008/pdf/Freshwater-to-Oceans-PB-April3.pdf
Management and Integrated Coastal and Ocean
Management by 2010 and Progress Indicators
·Policy Brief on the Governance of Marine Ecosystems
Link: http://www.globaloceans.org/globalconferences
and Uses in Areas Beyond the Limits of National
/2008/pdf/EBM-ICM-PB-April4.pdf
Jurisdiction
Link: http://www.globaloceans.org/globalconferences
·Policy Brief on Large Marine Ecosystems
/2008/pdf/High-Seas-PB-April9.pdf
Link: http://www.globaloceans.org/globalconferences
/2008/pdf/LME-PB-June18.pdf
·Policy Brief on Maritime Transportation
Link: http://www.globaloceans.org/globalconferences
·Policy Brief on Marine Biodiversity and Networks of
/2008/pdf/Maritime-Transportation-PB-June18.pdf
Marine Protected Areas
Link: http://www.globaloceans.org/globalconferences
·Policy Brief on Capacity Development
/2008/pdf/Biodiveristy-and-MPAs-PB-May15.pdf
Link: http://www.globaloceans.org/globalconferences
/2008/pdf/Capacity-Building-PB-April2.pdf
·Policy Brief on Fisheries and Aquaculture
Link: http://www.globaloceans.org/globalconferences
/2008/pdf/Fisheries-and-Aquaculture-PB-April2.pdf
2

---

The conference focused especially on assessing the
progress that has been achieved (or lack thereof) on the
global oceans targets established by the world's political
leaders at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable
Development: Achieving ecosystem-based and integrated
ocean and coastal management by 2010, reducing marine
biodiversity loss by 2010, establishing networks of marine
protected areas by 2012, and restoring fishery stocks by
2015, among others.
The conference underlined that ocean and coastal man-
agers are at the front line of climate changes. The climate
issues that ocean and coastal leaders around the world will
need to face will ineradicably change the nature of ocean
and coastal management, introducing increased uncertain-
·Policy Brief on Compliance and Enforcement
ty, the need to incorporate climate change planning into all
Link: http://www.globaloceans.org/globalconferences
existing management processes, the need to develop and
/2008/pdf/Compliance-and-Enforcement-PB-June18.pdf
apply new tools related to vulnerability assessment, and
·Policy Brief on Developing a Strategy for Public
the need to make difficult choices in what in many cases
Education and Outreach
will be "no win" situations, involving adverse impacts to
Link: http://www.globaloceans.org/globalconferences
vulnerable ecosystems and communities. Conference par-
/2008/pdf/Public-Education-PB-April2.pdf
ticipants underlined that we must begin this process now,
including altering coastal development that is already in
4th Global Conference on Oceans,
the pipeline--we don't have the luxury of waiting 10 years
before we consider the implications and before we act.
Coasts, and Islands: Advancing Ecosystem
Management and Integrated Coastal and
Coverage of the Global Conference is available at the
following sites:
Ocean Management in the Context of
Climate Change, April 7-11, 2008,
· The Global Forum website:
http://www.globaloceans.org
Hanoi, Vietnam
· The Global Forum, the World Ocean Network and
The 4th Global Conference on Oceans, Coasts, and
the World Ocean Observatory have created a special
Islands brought together 439 ocean and coastal leaders
GOC2008 website and YouTube channel designed
from 62 countries, representing all sectors, including gov-
specifically to inform audiences across the world about
ernments, intergovernmental and international organiza-
the context and work of the Global Forum using rich
tions, non-governmental organizations, the business com-
media. The YouTube site features interviews with 45
munity, ocean donors, and scientific institutions. The con-
ocean and coastal experts from various sectors
ference assessed essential issues in the governance of the
around the globe.
world's oceans, with a focus on moving toward an ecosys-
tem-based and integrated approach to oceans governance
GOC2008 Website:
at national, regional, and global levels. For the first time, a
http://www.thew2o.net/goc2008/index.html
concerted effort was made to bring oceans policy together
GOC2008 YouTube Channel:
with climate change, which, as indicated in the 2007
http://www.youtube.com/globaloceans2008
report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
will have profound effects on ecosystems and coastal pop-
The International Institute for Sustainable Development ­
ulations around the world, especially among the poorest
Reporting Services (IISDRS) provided daily coverage of
people on Earth and in small island developing States.
Conference proceedings and prepared the Conference
Summary. (please see link on page 4)
3

---

Other Relevant Documents and Links
Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans
and the Law of the Sea, June 24, 2008
Conference Introduction
Link: http://www.globaloceans.org/globalconferences
· Introduction to the 4th Global Conference on Oceans,
/2008/pdf/Conference-Outcomes-Presentation.ppt
Coasts, and Islands, Dr. Biliana Cicin-Sain
Link: http://www.globaloceans.org/globalconferences
The Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands:
/2008/pdf/BilianaCicinSainIntro.pdf
Report of Activities, 2005-2008
Conference Program
· Link: http://www.globaloceans.org/gef/pdf/Report_
· Link: http://www.globaloceans.org/globalconferences
GlobalForumActivities_2005-2008.pdf
/2008/pdf/ConferenceProgram-April4.pdf
Conference Summary Report
Collaboration Invited in the Global
· 4th Global Conference on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands:
Forum's Program of Work 2008-2012
Conference Overview and Earth Negotiations Bulletin
Organizations with an interest in advancing the global
Summary Report
oceans agenda are invited to collaborate with the Global
Link: http://www.globaloceans.org/globalconferences
Forum in the further development and implementation of
/2008/pdf/Conference-Outcomes-ENBSummary.pdf
the strategic plan to advance the global oceans agenda and
Post-Hanoi Submissions to International Entities by the
associated activities.
Global Forum
Contact Information
· Submission of the Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts,
For additional information, please contact:
and Islands to the UN Ad Hoc Open-Ended Informal
Working Group to study issues relating to the conser-
Dr. Biliana Cicin-Sain, Co-Chair and Head of Secretariat,
vation and sustainable use of marine biological diversi-
Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands,
ty beyond areas of national jurisdiction, New York, 28
and Director, Gerard J. Mangone Center for Marine Policy
University of Delaware, Robinson Hall 301
April - 2 May 2008
Newark, Delaware 19716 USA
Link: http://www.globaloceans.org/highseas/pdf/Global
Email: bcs@udel.edu
ForumSubmission-2ndAdHocWGMeeting-April2008-
Tel. +1-302-831-8086
red.pdf
Fax: +1-302-831-3668
· Report to the Ninth Meeting of the Conference of the
Dr. Miriam C. Balgos, Program Coordinator
Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity, 19-30
Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands
May 2008, Bonn, Germany
Gerard J. Mangone Center for Marine Policy
University of Delaware, Robinson Hall 301
Link: http://www.globaloceans.org/globalconferences
Newark, Delaware 19716 USA
/2008/pdf/Biodiveristy-and-MPAs-PB-May15.pdf
Email: mbalgos@udel.edu
· Submission of the Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts,
Tel. +1-302-831-8086
and Islands to the United Nations Open-ended
Fax: +1-302-831-3668
Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law
of the Sea, 23-27 June 2008 "Global Oceans
Conference in Hanoi Urges International Attention to
Ocean/Climate Issues"
Link: http://www.globaloceans.org/globalconferences
/2008/pdf/ICP-9.pdf
· Powerpoint Presentation on "Results and Next Steps:
4th Global Conference on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands:
Advancing Ecosystem Management and Integrated
Coastal and Ocean Management in the Context of
Climate Change," Presented at the United Nations
4

---