Provided by Google Translate
English Español Français Deutsch Italiano Português русский বঙ্গীয় 中文 日本語
Provided by Google Translate
Afrikaans Albanian Amharic Arabic Armenian Azerbaijani Basque Belarusian Bengali Bosnian Bulgarian Catalan Cebuano Chinese (S) Chinese (T) Corsican Croatian Czech Danish Dutch English Esperanto Estonian Finnish French Frisian Galician Georgian German Greek Gujarati Haitian Creole Hausa Hawaiian Hebrew Hindi Hmong Hungarian Icelandic Igbo Indonesian Irish Italian Japanese Javanese Kannada Kazakh Khmer Kinyarwanda Korean Kurdish Kyrgyz Lao Latvian Lithuanian Luxembourgish Macedonian Malagasy Malay Malayalam Maltese Maori Marathi Mongolian Myanmar Nepali Norwegian Nyanja Odia Pashto Persian Polish Portuguese Punjabi Romanian Russian Samoan Scots Gaelic Serbian Sesotho Shona Sindhi Sinhala Slovak Slovenian Somali Spanish Sundanese Swahili Swedish Tagalog Tajik Tamil Tatar Telugu Thai Turkish Turkmen Ukrainian Urdu Uyghur Uzbek Vietnamese Welsh Xhosa Yiddish Yoruba Zulu

Newsroom

A Voice for our Ocean

Newsroom

Section Menu

ADVISORY: Ocean Conservancy Experts Available for Interviews at Our Ocean Conference

Biodiversity, plastics, climate and Arctic experts are attending to strengthen international commitments vital to a healthy ocean.

English Español Français Deutsch Italiano Português русский বঙ্গীয় 中文 日本語

BUSAN, South Korea – Ocean Conservancy experts will be on the ground and available for interviews at the 10th annual Our Ocean Conference in Busan, South Korea from Monday, April 28 through Wednesday, April 30.

Ocean Conservancy’s work at this year’s conference includes continued work to preserve the Central Arctic Ocean and implement the Central Arctic Ocean Fisheries Agreement; pushing for action  to protect the ocean “twilight zone”, an area 200-1000 meters under the ocean’s surface that is home to some of the most fascinating sea life on the planet; reducing single use plastic and deadly fishing “ghost gear;” and addressing climate change through responsible offshore wind development. 

“Our ocean is not just a resource — it is a relative, a teacher, and a part of who we are,” said ‘Wáahlaal Gíidaak Barbara Blake, vice president of Arctic & Northern Waters at Ocean Conservancy. “For thousands of years, Indigenous peoples have lived in deep relationship with the Arctic Ocean, guided by ancestral knowledge and a responsibility to protect these waters for future generations. As the ice recedes and industrial interest grows, we are at a critical moment to uphold Indigenous leadership, safeguard the beings and places we are in relationship with, and ensure that international agreements reflect the laws and knowledge systems that have long sustained life in the Arctic and waters in the North. By upholding Indigenous leadership, weaving together Indigenous knowledge and Western science, and strengthening international commitments, we can protect the beings, relationships, and communities that have always been in kinship with these waters.”

WHOOcean Conservancy experts will be in attendance in Busan and available for interviews upon request:

‘Wáahlaal Gíidaak Barbara Blake, vice president, Arctic & Northern Waters

Chris Dorsett, vice president, conservation 

Nick Mallos, vice president, conservation, ocean plastics

Shamini Selvaratnam, director of international climate and clean energy
WHATAreas of expertise include:

– Arctic conservation and policy 
– Indigenous led conservation
– Fisheries policy
– Abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear
– Biodiversity protection
– International plastics treaty
– Ocean climate policy
– Blue economy
– Clean ocean energy 
WHEN Monday, April 28 – Wednesday April 30

WHERE TO FIND US		A full schedule of events Ocean Conservancy is participating in or hosting can be found below.
CONTACTMadeline Black, senior communications manager
[email protected]
Integrating Offshore Wind and Marine Biodiversity in Asia
Date: Monday, April 28
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 12:20 p.m. KST
Location: Busan Exhibition and Convention Center, Exhibition Hall 2, Rooms 121-122
Description: Offshore wind development is rapidly gaining traction in the Western Pacific Ocean, driven by ambitious renewable energy goals and the pressing need to transition away from fossil fuels. The workshop will explore strategies to responsibly scale offshore wind energy while safeguarding marine biodiversity and ecosystem processes in this dynamic region.

NOTE: Media are invited to join the first half of this session which will feature keynote remarks from Chris Dorsett, vice president of conservation at Ocean Conservancy, Ulrik Lenaerts, Co-Facilitator for the UNFCCC Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue and Deputy Director of Environment and Climate Policies and Cooperation for Belgium’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Media will also be invited to attend a panel discussion featuring experts from the Global Offshore Wind Alliance, Korea Maritime Institution, Ørsted Asia Pacific and Ocean Energy Pathway.
Who Owns Marine Litter? Tackling Legal Barriers to Clean-Ups
Date: Monday, April 28
Time: 4:20 – 5:50 p.m.
Location: BEXCO Exhibition Hall, Rooms 203 and 204
Description: Abandoned fish farms are environmental ticking bombs, but legal ownership disputes delay cleanup efforts. This session explores how these challenges hinder action, allowing pollution to spread, and examines solutions to overcome these barriers for cleaner oceans.
Ocean Conservancy Speaker: Chris Dorsett, vice president, conservation
International Seminar on Marine Plastic Pollution Prevention
Event Organizers: Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Government of the Republic of Korea
Date: Tuesday, April 29
Time: 2:40 – 4:10 p.m. KST 
Location: BEXCO Exhibition Hall, Room 215
Event Description: To discuss major causes and solutions to marine plastic pollution, introduce domestic and international fisheries management policies, and explore international cooperation strategies.
Ocean Conservancy Speaker: Chris Dorsett, vice president, conservation
Taking the Central Arctic Ocean Fisheries Agreement from Theory to Practice
Date: Tuesday, April 29
Time: 12:50 – 2:20 p.m. KST
Location: BEXCO Exhibition Hall, Rooms 203 and 204
Description: Delegates will release summary recommendations and discuss progress to date on breathing life into innovative commitments made in CAOFA, gaps in practice that still need filling, and lessons useful for future international application.
Ocean Conservancy Moderator: Scott Highleyman, senior advisor
Protecting the Ocean Twilight Zone: Driving Global Action for Climate Stability, Biodiversity and a Healthy Ocean
Date: Tuesday, April 29
Time: 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. KST
Location:  Exhibition Center 2, Room 326
Description: This roundtable, hosted by Ocean Conservancy, Environmental Defense Fund,
and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, will bring together government representatives,
scientists, and relevant stakeholders to discuss the role of the ocean twilight zone (also known as the mesopelagic zone) in regulating climate, as a critical source of marine biodiversity, and supporting sustainable fisheries as an important source of prey. The session will emphasize the importance of protecting this underappreciated part of the ocean and discuss the opportunities and challenges associated with its conservation. The Roundtable provides an opportunity for interested Countries to learn from relevant experts about the importance of this area and help shape the strategy for advancing the protection of the twilight zone at a global scale.
Ocean Conservancy Speaker: Chris Dorsett, vice president, conservation policy and programs
Melting North, Changing South: How Climate Impacts Connect the Arctic Ocean and Jeju Sea
Date: Wednesday, April 30
Time: 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. KST
Location: BEXCO Exhibition Hall, Rooms 201 and 202
Description: Science, conservation and Indigenous leaders will discuss innovative solutions emerging from shared climate stresses to the ocean that connects us all, including a new international agreement to protect the Central Arctic Ocean and expanded MPA proposals for the Jeju Sea.
Ocean Conservancy Speaker:  ‘Wáahlaal Gíidaak Barabara Blake, vice president, Arctic & Northern Waters
Empowering Citizens Through Data Science for a Cleaner Ocean
Date: Wednesday, April 30
Time: 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. KST
Location: BEXCO Exhibition Hall, Room 214
Description: This event aims to explore innovative solutions for addressing marine pollution by leveraging big data and citizen science while promoting the integration of digital technologies to enhance public participation in marine conservation efforts. The event will assist in strengthening collaborations, offering actionable strategies for sustainable marine conservation, and emphasizing the role of advanced technologies in ensuring an effective and enforceable treaty that addresses the full life cycle of plastics.
Ocean Conservancy Speakers: Chris Dorsett, vice president, conservation
Marine Debris Plenary
Date: Wednesday, April 30
Time: 10:50 a.m. – 12:20 p.m. KST
Location: BEXCO Auditorium
Description: Nick Mallos, Vice President of Conservation, Ocean Plastics, will deliver remarks on the mainstage of the marine debris plenary about the interlocking threats facing our ocean: climate change, biodiversity loss, and plastic pollution.
Ocean Conservancy Speaker: Nick Mallos, vice president of conservation, ocean plastics
Coexisting at Sea: Offshore Wind, Marine Planning, and Sustainable Futures for Fisheries and Communities
Date: Wednesday, April 30
Time: 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. KST
Location: BEXCO Exhibition Hall, Room 214
Description: Ocean Conservancy will participate in a fireside chat with Global Offshore Wind Alliance highlighting the Offshore Renewable Energy Breakthrough and explore how offshore wind can be developed in harmony with other ocean users, particularly fisheries and coastal communities, through effective marine spatial planning and collaboration.
Ocean Conservancy Representative: Shamini Selvaratnam, director of international climate and clean energy
From International Policy to Local Efforts: Concrete Actions to Address the Global Ghost Gear Challenge
Date: Wednesday, April 30,
Time: 12:40 – 2:10 p.m. KST
Location: BEXCO Exhibition Hall, Room 215
Event Description: This side event, hosted by Ocean Conservancy’s Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI) aims to highlight concrete actions addressing the deadliest form of plastic pollution, ghost fishing gear, focusing on innovative solutions to prevent, mitigate and remove the impacts of this growing threat to marine ecosystems and coastal communities. We will showcase efforts from governments, private sector, NGOs, and local communities working to combat this issue. The event will also highlight the importance of ensuring ghost gear remains included as one of the issues in the ongoing negotiations for the Plastics Treaty; as well as the need to achieve an ambitious, and comprehensive agreement that addresses the full life cycle of plastics. The event will also provide a meaningful opportunity to highlight the role of the Republic of Korea in driving these discussions and its contributions to make the process successful.
Ocean Conservancy Speakers: Chris Dorsett, vice president, conservation

###

ABOUT OCEAN CONSERVANCY  

Ocean Conservancy is working to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together with our partners, we create evidence-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it. For more information, visit lunverosia.com, or follow us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) or Instagram.  

Media Contact

Madeline Black

Share

Top
Back to Top Up Arrow