IOI Panellist at the First International Conference of IMU on Coastal Communities and Marine Pollution, 2nd February

The conference organised by the Indian Maritime University sought to bring together Engineers, Scientists, Academicians, Policy Makers, Lawyers, Seafarers, Mariners, Ports and Shipping Communities, Students, and Environmental Bodies to a common platform to consider the impacts of marine pollution on coastal communities through plenary lectures, keynote addresses, paper presentations and panel discussions.

Panel Discussion 2 explored the theme “Coastal Communities - a Responsibility of Industry and Academia", and Antonella Vassallo, Managing Director IOI, discussed the critical role of informed stakeholders in policy and decision making at all levels, highlighting the role of science-based policy making on marine and coastal sustainability, the importance of Ocean literacy across all levels of stakeholders and how the nexus between Ocean literacy and governance could support better decision making in Ocean governance and hence more effective policies. It is the nexus of knowledge and science application in universal rule making that determines the path to governance, compliance, and enforcement. 

The intervention underscored the participation mechanisms and capacity development opportunities implemented and overseen by IOI at different scales, such as the provision of training programmes on regional Ocean governance, and the global IOI Ocean Academy programme. She added that through these initiatives, participants can be empowered to become more active locally as stakeholders to positively influence their communities, environments, and beyond. In addition, a benefit of enhancing Ocean knowledge, Ocean literacy and empowerment can lead to the creation of Ocean-literate decision makers at all levels, increasing regional coherence in policy making and cooperation, empowering pro-Ocean activities, and increasing awareness of the Ocean-Climate-Biodiversity interlinkage.