European Union to host global ‘Our Ocean’ 2017 conference in Malta

The Our Ocean conference will be hosted by the European Union next year, in Malta.

The conference will be held on October 5 and 6, the European Commission has confirmed. The annual conferences focus key ocean issues such as: marine protected areas, sustainable fisheries, marine pollution, and climate-related impacts on the ocean.

EU Commissioner for Maritime Affairs Karmenu Vella, currently at the Washington DC at the 2016 Our Ocean Conference, announced that the next 'Our Ocean' Conference will be hosted by the EU and take place in Malta.

Great news that @EU_Commission will organise next #OurOcean conference in #Malta -JM #EUOceanGov

— Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) September 16, 2016

The European Commission said that the choice was a significant recognition of the efforts of Vella, and the EU as a whole, to help deliver international cooperation on ocean issues.

It builds on Vella's pledge that the EU plays a key role in improving Ocean Governance.

I am delighted to announce #Malta will host #OurOcean conference 5-6 Oct 2017 https://t.co/AjYOGB1hkJ #EUOceanGov pic.twitter.com/MQ2oleKW6J

— Karmenu Vella (@KarmenuVella) September 16, 2016

"If we want to ensure a more sustainable use of the oceans and their resources, we need to close legal gaps, cooperate more effectively and strengthen enforcement – in short, we need better ocean governance,” Vella told the current conference.

“I therefore intend to launch a major initiative on international ocean governance before the end of the year. We need to keep the momentum for change.”

The 2017 conference will build on the issues of the ocean and climate change, marine pollution and sustainable fishing. It will further develop how the Ocean can contribute to sustainable blue growth, including through new energy sources such as tidal and wave technology.