A Clean Ocean
17 – 19 November 2021
A clean ocean where sources of pollution are identified and removed.
Parilov / Adobe Stock
To sustain life and economic activity, the ocean must be clean. Stakeholders will collaborate to identify pollutants and their sources to the ocean by 2025, remove contaminants from the ocean by 2030 and support society’s transition to a pollutant-minimizing circular economy.
Societies worldwide generate plastic, noise, and harmful chemicals. Whatever the source, these actions on present or increased scales are unsustainable stressors for a clean ocean. The critical gaps in our knowledge of the causes and sources of ocean pollution and its effects must urgently be addressed with interdisciplinary science and transformation of the generated knowledge to society, policy and economy - for the clean ocean we want.
DOCUMENTATION
The third Ocean Decade Laboratory "A Clean Ocean" drew participants from 105 countries from all continents. Starting with a common Core Event on 17 November it continued with 29 Satellite Activities, covering aspects and definitions of a clean ocean such as "Improving Plastics Management in Asia Pacific", "Air-Sea Observations for a Clean Ocean" and "Sustainable Management of Plastic Waste". Some Satellite Activities also reminded us that pollution is not just plastic and litter, but also noise. Ships, under-water mining and offshore wind farms are only some of the sources of ocean noise. After two days of Satellite Activities, the Ocean Decade Laboratory concluded with a Wrap-up on 19 November, highlighting the potential for a profitable blue economy with a "Clean Ocean 2030 Manifesto".
If you missed the third Ocean Decade Laboratory, you will find a five-minute documentation below. You can also see the entire Core Event and the Wrap-up here: Core Event and Wrap-up.
To learn more about the manifesto presented by the members of the International Expert Group of the Ocean Decade Laboratory "A Clean Ocean" click here.
Ocean Decade Laboratories “A Clean Ocean”
The Ocean Decade Laboratories are a creative, interactive platform supporting global action for the Ocean Decade which the UN proclaimed 2021-2030. The clip shows a documentary of the Core Event of the Laboratory “A Clean Ocean” which took place in November 2021.Copyright: BMBF
During the Core Event, five Breakout Sessions on the topic of "The Quest for Change" were recorded as visual representations. You can find these drawings in the gallery below or watch the Breakout Sessions in their entirety here: Session 1, Session 2, Session 3, Session 4.
Graphic Recording Interactive Breakout Session 1
BMBF / Carolin Görtler, Visual Faciliators
Graphic Recording Interactive Breakout Session 2
BMBF / Björn Pertoft, Visual Faciliators
Graphic Recording Interactive Breakout Session 3
BMBF / Franziska Schwarz, Visual Faciliators
Graphic Recording Interactive Breakout Session 4
BMBF / Visual Faciliators
Graphic Recording Interactive Breakout Session 5
BMBF / Marcus Frey, Visual Faciliators
Here you do have the chance to rewatch the presented video from the Story of Success: Tubbataha Reef – Jewel of the Sulu Sea.
Satellite Activities
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One Integrated Marine Debris Observing System for a Clean Ocean (English/French)
This event explores how the Integrated Marine Debris Observing System (IMDOS) can strengthen the scientific knowledge on marine litter pollution to support research, innovating solutions, and mitigating actions.
How to Achieve a Clean Ocean in the Southern Ocean Region
This Activity is an opportunity to discuss how to maintain a Clean Southern Ocean by strengthening links between science, industry & policy in order to develop techniques suitable for polar conditions & activities for solving gaps in knowledge/data.
Remould: Improving Plastics Management in Asia Pacific
A practical workshop that will draw on the Plastic Management Index - the first attempt to quantify plastic management practices at a country level - to provide policymakers and stakeholders with tools to improve national plastic management efforts.
Inspiring Science and Society to tackle Marine Litter
The Marine Litter challenge must prompt scientists, governments, industry, environmental groups and citizens to take urgent action and to work together. This webinar aims to strengthen those interactions, contributing to a Joint Strategy.
On Noise Pollution: OPUS Whales. Do you copy?
Opus Whales explores the invisible threat of underwater anthropogenic noise from an artistic slant. A brief experience to empathize with creatures that rely on sound to survive. (Headphones are suggested, but not mandatory.)
Stockholm Convention on POPs: 20 Years of Action
This webinar is a general guide to the current implementation of the Stockholm Convention regarding the problem of POPs pollution and prospects of further actions within the framework of the UN Ocean Program.
Toward a Clean and Sustainable Mediterranean Sea
This Satellite Activity aims to give voice to several Mediterranean experiences of tackling marine litter, looking at best practices between marine litter, its prevention and remediation, and highlighting programs implemented in Mediterranean areas.
Uniting Maritime with Ocean Science for a Clean Ocean
3 hypotheses for a clean ocean: 1. Maritime activities can provide enablers for clean ocean science and research, 2.The shipping sector can be stimulated to support a clean ocean, 3.The opposite of a clean ocean will greatly impact shipping.
Co-Chairs
Angelika Brandt
Head of Department Marine Zoology, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt
Elva Escobar Briones
Professor in Oceanography, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología (ICML) UNAM
SPEAKERS & MODERATORS
Gina Bonne
Officer in Charge/Head of the Department of Environment and Climate Change, Indian Ocean Commission
Laura Cimoli
Postdoctoral Researcher at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego
Torben Riehl
Research Scientist, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt
David Vousden
Chair, United Nations Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection
Kenneth M. Y. Leung
Director of State Key Lab. of Marine Pollution, Chair Professor of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong
PROGRAM CORE EVENT
17 NOVEMBER, 4.00 PM – 8.00 PM CET
MODERATOR
— Monika Jones, International TV and Conference Host, Germany
OPENING
— Volker Rieke, Director General at Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Germany
— Vladimir Ryabinin, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC)
of UNESCO, France
— Angelika Brandt, Head of Department Marine Zoology, Senckenberg Society for Nature Research,
Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany
WHAT IS A CLEAN OCEAN?
Panel discussion
Co-moderation
— Colin Devey, Professor of Seafloor Volcanology,
GEOMAR – Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Germany
Panelists
Shorelines without sewage
— Hugo Tagholm, Surfers Against Sewage, United Kingdom
Coasts free from debris
— Heidi Tait, CEO & Founder at Tangaroa Blue Foundation, Australia
Shallow and deep seas unspoiled by pollution
— Judith Gobin, Head, Department of Life Sciences, St. Augustine Campus,
The University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago
Seas with plastics drawn down
— Ben Jack, Director, Programmes at Common Seas, United Kingdom
Q&A with audience
THE QUEST FOR CHANGE – the need for knowledge sharing and capacity building
Interactive breakout session
Breakout Session 1
"Strengthening Governance for a Clean Ocean within Large Marine Ecosystems"
— David Vousden, Chair,
United Nations Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection,
South Africa (Speaker)
— Harriet Harden-Davies, Research Fellow at the Australian National Centre
for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS), University of Wollongong, Australia (Co-moderation)
Breakout Session 2
"The challenge of a clean ocean: past, present & future – the need to work together"
— Peter John Kershaw, Independent Consultant, Marine Environmental Protection, United Kingdom (Speaker)
— Kaveh Samimi-Namin, Associate Researcher, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Netherlands (Co-moderation)
Breakout Session 3
“Point of departure: Seabed mining”
— Tanja Stratmann, Postdoctoral researcher,
Department of Earth Sciences, Geochemistry, Utrecht University, Netherlands (Speaker)
— Elva Escobar, Professor in Oceanography
at Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología (ICML) UNAM, Mexico (Co-moderation)
Breakout Session 4
“Towards quieter oceans”
— Christine Erbe, Director, Centre for Marine Science & Technology (CMST),
Curtin University, Australia (Speaker)
— Colin Devey, Professor of Seafloor Volcanology,
GEOMAR – Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Germany (Co-moderation)
Breakout Session 5
„Managing risks of marine litter and plastic pollution“
— Heidi Savelli, UN Environment Programme, Australia (Speaker)
— Simon Jungblut, Project Manager of "FACE-IT" at the Department of Marine Botany,
University of Bremen, Germany (Co-moderation)
ARTISTIC BREAK
REPORTS FROM THE BREAKOUT SESSION
— Harriet Harden-Davies, Research Fellow at the Australian National Centre for
Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS), University of Wollongong, Australia
— Peter John Kershaw, Independent Consultant, marine environmental protection, United Kingdom
— Tanja Stratmann, Postdoctoral researcher, Department of Earth Sciences,
Geochemistry, Utrecht University, Netherlands
— Christine Erbe, Director, Centre for Marine Science & Technology (CMST), Curtin University, Australia
— Heidi Savelli, UN Environment Programme, Australia
“CLEAN UP”
Panel discussion
Panelists
Waste as a cultural challenge
— Jana Steingässer, Head of Communication and Project Development,
Okeanos Foundation for the Sea, Germany
A renaissance of traditional knowledge for day-to-day needs
— Peia Patai, Fleet Commander, Okeanos Foundation for the Sea, Pacific
Smarter big shipping
— Sofia Fürstenberg Stott, Partner at Fürstenberg Maritime Advisory, Sweden
More and better education for sustainable development
— Gina Bonne, Officer in Charge, Head of the Department of Environment and Climate Change,
Indian Ocean Commission for IOC, Mauritius
Cooperation, communication and climate at the North Pole
— Jessica Nilsson, Chair of PAME, Arctic Council’s work on Protection
of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME), Sweden
Q&A with audience
ENDORSED PROGRAMS
Speakers (in speaking order)
Cleaner estuaries: “Global Estuaries Monitoring (GEM) Programme”
— Kenneth Mei Yee Leung, Director of State Key Lab. of Marine Pollution,
City University Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Quieter oceans: “Ocean Decade Research Programme on the Maritime Acoustic Environment”
— Kyle Becker, Co-Chair, Interagency Working Group on Ocean Sound and Marine Life,
United States
Comparing the ocean 150 years ago and today: “Challenger 150 – A Decade to Study Deep-Sea Life”
— Kerry Howell, Professor of Deep-Sea Ecology, University of Plymouth, United Kingdom
Knowledge for a clean ocean:
“Sustainability of Marine Ecosystems through global knowledge networks”
— Jörn Schmidt, Chair of the Science Committee,
International Council for the Exploration of the Seas, Denmark
Monitoring and conserving the deep ocean: “Deep Ocean Observing Strategy”
— Laura Cimoli, Postdoctoral Researcher at Scripps Institution of Oceanography,
University of California, San Diego, USA
Q&A with audience
LOOKING FORWARD
Wrap-up and next steps
Cleaner oceans from near shore to mid-ocean, sea floor to sea surface, and Antarctica to the North Pole
— Angelika Brandt, Head of Department Marine Zoology, Senckenberg Society for Nature Research, Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany
PROGRAM WRAP-UP
19 November, 4.00 pm – 5.30 pm CET
Moderator
— Monika Jones, International TV and Conference Host, Germany
Co-moderator
— Jesse Huntley Ausubel, Expert in ocean observing, Program for the Human Environment,
The Rockefeller University, USA
OPENING
— Opening remarks by moderators
— Documentary film of Core Event
KEY MESSAGES OF CORE EVENT
Panel discussion
Panelists
— Elva Escobar, Deep-sea life expert, Professor in Oceanography
at Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología (ICML) UNAM, Mexico
— Gina Bonne, Officer in Charge, Head of the Department of Environment and Climate Change,
Indian Ocean Commission for IOC, Mauritius
— Alex David Rogers, Science Director, REV Ocean, Senior Research Fellow,
Somerville Collage, University of Oxford, Norway
REPORTS OF SELECTED SATELLITE ACTIVITIES
Satellite Activities and Speakers
“Remote Sensing and Smart Tech for Marine Litter”
— Manuel Arias, Ocean Physical Modelling Program Manager, ARGANS Ltd / ARGANS France, France
“Digital Twin Ocean Pollution”
— Steven Adler, CEO, Ocean Data Alliance, Spain
“How to Achieve a Clean Ocean in the Southern Ocean Region”
— Clara Manno, Pelagic Marine Ecologist at BAS and co chair, SCAR Plastic in the Polar Environments
Working Group, United Kingdom
“A Floating Classroom”
— Saskia Brix, Research Scientist, IceAGE and IceDivA project lead,
Senckenberg Society for Nature Research, Germany
STORIES OF SUCCESS
Speakers
“A Clean Ocean for all marine species”
— Torben Riehl, Research Scientist, biodiversity of the deep sea,
Senckenberg Society for Nature Research, Germany
“Law of the Sea: a necessary tool for a clean ocean”
— Frida M. Armas-Pfirter, Professor of International Law, Buenos Aires University, Argentina
“Jewel of the Sulu Sea“
— Angelique Songco, Protected Area Superintendent, Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park and World Heritage Site,
Philippines
OUTLOOK: OCEAN DECADE LABORATORIES 2022
CLOSING – GOALS FOR A CLEAN OCEAN FOR THE OCEAN DECADE
— Closing remarks by moderators and
Angelika Brandt, Head of Department Marine Zoology, Senckenberg Society for Nature Research,
Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany
OCEAN DECADE LABORATORIES
AN INSPIRING AND ENGAGING OCEAN
An inspiring and engaging ocean where society understands and values the ocean.
A PREDICTED OCEAN
A predicted ocean where society has the capacity to understand current and future ocean conditions.
A HEALTHY AND RESILIENT OCEAN
A healthy and resilient ocean where marine ecosystems are mapped and protected.
AN ACCESSIBLE OCEAN
An accessible ocean with good governance, open access to data, information and technologies.
A PRODUCTIVE OCEAN
A sustainably harvested and productive ocean ensuring the provision of food supply.