Highlights and images for 16 May 2017

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

Participants