Minister LeBlanc brings Canadian ocean leadership to the first international Ocean Risk Summit

OTTAWA, May 11, 2018 /CNW/ - Protecting the world's oceans and reducing the risks will take global partnership and strong leadership.

The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, wrapped up the Ocean Risk Summit in Bermuda, the first international summit of its kind. It brought together experts and stakeholders from across the globe to discuss strategies and innovative financial solutions to reduce risks associated with our ever-changing oceans.

In his closing keynote address at the Summit, Minister LeBlanc underscored the state of the oceans and the urgency for governments to work together to meet the challenges ahead. He stressed Canada's commitment to taking a leadership role in working with other countries to protect our oceans, noting that Canada has made oceans a theme of its G7 presidency. He also acknowledged the need to work as a global community, focused on protecting and improving the biodiversity that is essential for global wellbeing and especially important for the communities that depend on the ocean and the fishery for jobs and economic opportunity. Mitigating the effects of our changing oceansis crucial for Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

Minister LeBlanc also highlighted Canada's new partnership with the World Maritimes University's new Global Ocean Institute. Through this partnership, Fisheries and Oceans Canada will be contributing $500,000 over four years under the Oceans Protection Plan to support research that will help protect our oceans and promote gender equity in oceans sciences.  

At the summit, the Minister met with Peter Thomson, UN Special Envoy for the Ocean as well as Carl Gustaf Lundin from the International Union for Conservation of Nature. He reiterated Canada's commitment as a leader on oceans issues and the importance of partnerships and the sharing of ocean observation data. The Minister further underscored how human health and prosperity depend on us taking urgent action on the oceans.

The discussions from this summit will continue as Canada prepares to host the upcoming G7 Leader's Summit in June 2018 and the G7 ministerial meetings on climate change, oceans and clean energy in Fall 2018.

Quotes
"Our oceans are a critical resource, and central to all life on this planet—but they are at risk. Beyond threats to public health and safety, extreme weather events and natural disasters have led to economic disruption, damaged infrastructure and compromised food production, especially for developing countries. That is why it's so important that we come together, as we have at the Oceans Risk Summit, to discuss ways we can help each other build resilient coasts and nurture sustainable development. Canada is committed to doing our part in protecting our coasts and oceans."   

The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc
Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

Associated Links
Oceans Risk Summit 
World Maritime University

Internet: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

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SOURCE Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Canada