About the Global Ocean Forum

The Global Ocean Forum was first mobilized in 2001 to help the world’s governments place issues related to oceans, coasts, and SIDS on the agenda of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg, South Africa (the ten-year review of progress achieved (or lack thereof) in the implementation of the outcomes of the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro),and was later formalized at the 2002 World Summit.

In the preparatory process for the WSSD, it became evident that ocean issues were not on the World Summit agenda. Hence, the Global Ocean Forum was mobilized to hold the first Global Conference on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands (in December 2001 at UNESCO, Paris) to lay the groundwork for the inclusion of an oceans perspective at theWSSD by calling atte ntion to the economic and social importance of oceans, coasts, and small island developing States and the serious problems besetting these areas. These efforts were successful in assisting governments in putting oceans on the WSSD agenda. At the World Summit on Sustainable Development in September 2002, Government delegates agreed on an action plan for oceans, coasts, and islands, with specific targets and timetables for action, to address the problems and threats, to sustainable development noted above. The ocean targets and timetables found in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation represent an important advance because there is now a global consensus reached at the highest political levels that there is an urgent need to take specific actions to achieve the sustainable development of oceans, coasts, and of small island developing States.

WSSD Ocean Targets and Timeline

Integrated ocean and coastal management

• Encourage the application of the ecosystem approach by 2010 for the sustainable development of the

oceans, particularly in the management of fisheries and the conservation of biodiversity

• Establish an effective, transparent and regular interagency coordination mechanism on ocean and

coastal issues within the United Nations system

• Promote integrated coastal and ocean management at the national level and encourage and assist

countries in developing ocean policies and mechanisms on integrated coastal management

• Assist developing countries in coordinating policies and programs at the regional and sub-regional

levels aimed at conservation and sustainable management of fishery resources and implement

integrated coastal area management plans, including through the development of infrastructure

Fisheries

• Implement the FAO International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported,

and Unregulated Fishing by 2004

• Implement the FAO International Plan of Action for the Management of Fishing Capacity by 2005

• Maintain or restore depleted fish stocks to levels that can produce their maximum sustainable yield on

an urgent basis and where possible no later than 2015

• Eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing and to overcapacity

Conservation of biodiversity

• To achieve by 2010 a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss at the global,

regional and national level as a contribution to poverty alleviation and to the benefit of all life on earth

• Develop and facilitate the use of diverse approaches and tools, including the ecosystem approach, the

elimination of destructive fishing practices, the establishment of marine protected areas consistent

with international law and based on scientific information, including representative networks by 2012

Protection from marine pollution and maritime safety

•    Advance implementation of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine
     Environment from Land-based Activities in the period 2002-2006 with a view to achieve
     substantial progress by 2006
•    Enhance maritime safety and protection of the marine environment:
     a) Ratify, accede to and implement IMO instruments
     b) Accelerate the development of measures to address invasive species in ballast waters

Science and observation

•    Improve scientific understanding and assessment of the marine environment
•    Establish a regular process under the United Nations for global reporting and assessment of
     the state of the marine environment, including socioeconomic aspects, by 2004

Small island developing States

• Follow-up on the implementation of the results of the Mauritius 2005 review of the Barbados

Programme of Action

Water resources management

• Development of integrated water resources management (IWRM) plans by 2005