The World Ocean Council’s Commitment is to Continue Creating Industry Leadership and Collaboration for Ocean Sustainability over the Long Term

Jun 13, 2017 -- The World Ocean Council’s unique role as the only global, multi-industry leadership alliance dedicated to ocean sustainable development delivered significant, successful ocean business engagement in last week’s first U.N. Ocean Conference.

Most importantly, the WOC will continue implementing its Mission to bring together the multi-sectoral ocean business community to catalyze global leadership and collaboration in ocean sustainability and “Corporate Ocean Responsibility” well beyond the conference.

Since 2009 the WOC has been engaging the ocean industries in working towards the Vision of a healthy and productive global ocean and its sustainable use, development and stewardship by a responsible ocean business community.

As a result, a diverse range of ocean industry companies from around the world and across the sectors are distinguishing themselves as leaders in ocean sustainable development as WOC Members and through the growing global WOC network of 34,000+ ocean industry stakeholders.

The WOC is organizing international, cross-sectoral industry efforts through:
- Addressing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by leading business community efforts to develop international ocean industry SDG objectives and metrics
- Creating the “Ocean Investment Platform” to bring together ocean industries, innovators and investors and accelerate investment in ocean sustainable development
- Launching a global Young Ocean Professionals initiative for the ocean business community
- Creating the Sustainable Ocean Summit (SOS) – the only annual global, high level, gathering of the ocean business community focused on sustainable development (5th SOS, Halifax, 29 Nov-1 Dec 2017)

WOC’s ongoing development of international multi-sectoral programs are working to tackle cross-cutting ocean priorities, e.g. ocean governance, marine spatial planning, marine sound, the Arctic, marine invasive species, marine mammal impacts, marine debris/plastics, port reception facilities, adaptation of ports and coastal infrastructure to sea level rise/extreme weather events, pirate fishing/fishery catch documentation and traceability, data collection by ships/platforms of opportunity (Smart Ocean-Smart Industries).

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