Summary
On Tuesday, delegates to the eighteenth meeting of the UN Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea (ICP-18) continued their discussions under the theme of “effects of climate change on oceans, including environmental, social and economic implications.”
In the morning, delegates heard six presentations on climate change impacts related to: Western boundary currents, highlighting the Agulhas Current; action on ocean acidification (OA); OA and ecosystem management; ocean productivity and oxygenation in the South Eastern Pacific; the role of coastal and marine ecosystems in climate mitigation; and the vulnerability of low-lying islands. Discussions focused on: the role of dynamic MPAs in protecting pelagic species in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJs); OA impacts in the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf and impacts on calcium carbonate shell organisms; use of MPAs for seagrass sites and for reversing dead zones; the impact of climate-related migration of fish species in the tropics and sub-tropics; the impossibility of controlling Western boundary currents to direct heat transport; national actions; scientific data on OA; and various approaches on carbon sequestration.
In the afternoon, five presentations on oceans and climate change focused on: forecasting and anticipating impacts on fisheries and aquaculture; sustaining global marine fisheries; OA and economic impacts; implications for food security in Sub-Saharan African fisheries (via webcast); and ecosystem effects in polar waters. Discussions focused on: effects of reduced sea ice on underwater productivity, and justifications for focusing on small scale fisheries.
IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, is providing daily web coverage and a summary and analysis report in English and French from the 18th Meeting of the UN Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea.
Photos by IISD/ENB | Mike Muzurakis
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Dimitri Gutiérrez Aguilar, Institute of Marine Research, Peru
Elizabeth Jewett, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), US
Lisa Beal, University of Miami
Katharina Fabricius, Australian Institute of Marine Science
Co-Chair Kornelios Korneliou, Cyprus
Carmen Mifsud, Malta
Marlene Moses, Nauru, presenting on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS)
Jennifer Howard, Conservation International presentation on clarifying the role of coastal and marine systems in climate mitigation.
The presentation by Carlos Garcia Soto, Spanish Institute of Oceanography on forecasting and anticipating effects of climate change on fisheries and aquaculture.
Jennifer Howard, Conservation International
Co-Chair Gustavo Meza-Cuadra, Peru
Andi Eka Sakya, Indonesia
Mehdi Remaoun, Algeria
From L-R: Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Director, UNDOALOS; Maria Fossheim, Institute of Marine Research, Norway; Nathalie Hilmi, Monaco Scientific Center; Co-Chair Kornelios Korneliou, Cyprus; Co-Chair Gustavo Meza-Cuadra, Peru; Dmitry Gonchar, UNDOALOS; William Cheung, University of British Columbia, Canada; and Carlos Garcia Soto, Spanish Institute of Oceanography
William Cheung, University of British Columbia, Canada
Nathalie Hilmi, Monaco Scientific Center
Hassan Moustahfid, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Carlos Garcia Soto, Spanish Institute of Oceanography
Barbara Boechat, Brazil
Ko Barrett, US
Luke Daunivalu, Fiji
Sesselja Sigurðardóttir, Iceland
Maria Fossheim, Institute of Marine Research, Norway
Essam Yassin Mohammed, International Institute for Environment and Development, talked about the impacts of climate change on fisheries (via webcast)
Nadia Deckert, France, with Cyrille Barnerias, Global Environment Facility (GEF)
Francisco Armando Arias Isaza, Institute of Marine Research, Colombia, and Keith Lennon, Canada
Participants networking during the lunch break
Isaías Medina Mejías, Venezuela, with Eglantine Cujo, EU
Around the Venue
The Japanese Peace Bell
Reclining Figure: Hand, Henry Moore
Single Form, Barbara Hepworth