Our Ocean Conference 2018

November 2018

A few weeks ago members of the Manta Team attended the fifth ‘Our Ocean’ conference in Bali, Indonesia. Our Head of Conservation Strategy, Isabel Ender, offers some insight into what the whole event was about, and why so many people from around the world descended on the island of the gods.

At the fifth Our Ocean conference, stakeholders from around the globe convened to generate commitments and take actions for the sustainability of our oceans. Participants included governments, commercial sectors, financing entities, scientific communities, civil society organizations, and young leaders. Heads of States, Ministers, and champions from various backgrounds were also invited.

Our Ocean aims to foster collaboration and partnership between ocean stakeholders, which is translated into concrete and actionable commitments. Discussions this year focused on the issue of marine pollution, in particular plastics, sustainable fisheries, climate change-related impacts to the ocean, marine protected areas, and the cross-cutting themes of maritime security and blue economy. Over 280 tangible commitments with a value more than US$10 billion were made, and 14 million square km in new Marine Protected Areas were pledged!

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Isabel Ender with ‘Her Deepness’, Sylvia Earle. Photo by Betty Laglbauer.

It was such an honour to participate at Our Ocean 2018, on behalf of Manta Trust, learn more about these issues and the true scale of problems, yet also be inspired by the incredible actions and investments that are being made to combat ocean threats. Most memorable to me was the enthusiasm that shined through the young ocean leaders. Seeing how engaged and committed the new generation is to literally “clean up the mess we made” left me humbled, inspired, and full of hope.