Engaging Private Sector Collaboration with Mission Ocean

There is an important need and opportunity to develop cross-sectoral private sector interaction with Mission Ocean, bringing the industry, innovation and investment community of the ocean and seas together to engage in a collective, coordinated, efficient and effective manner with the broader Mission Ocean ecosystem and it’s goal to Restore European Ocean and Waters.

The World Ocean Council (WOC) action on “Engaging Private Sector Collaboration with Mission Ocean” will create proactive, coordinated business community leadership, collaboration and action in support of Mission Ocean objectives to:
• Protect and restore marine and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity
• Prevent and eliminate pollution of our ocean, seas and waters
• Make the sustainable blue economy carbon-neutral and circular
• Advance ocean and waters knowledge system
• Engage public mobilisation and engagement

In doing so, the private sector will be able to ensure that it is better addressing the need to sustain marine biodiversity, habitats, ecosystem services and overall health of European Seas and Waters. This will support blue economy, ocean sustainable development, responsible economic use, the conservation coastal/marine biodiversity and habitats and the management of resources.

Overall, the WOC action on engaging the private sector will:
• Identify and address the environment and sustainability challenges associated with marine economic activities in the European Ocean and Waters.
• Contribute to a responsible, sustainable Blue Economy for European Ocean and Waters.
• Create and improve partnerships and collaboration among the diverse components of the coastal and marine private sector community.
• Create and improve partnerships and collaboration between the coastal/marine business community and other stakeholders, institutions and processes in Europe.

Specific results will include:
• A network of coastal/marine industry leadership companies engaged in understanding and addressing the sustainability and blue economy needs and opportunities of European Ocean and Waters.
• An operational business leadership alliance as part of the overall WOC platform/network.
• Annual workshops on private sector engagement in sustainable European Ocean and Waters and Mission Ocean.
• The coastal/marine private sector community:
o Engaging with Mission Ocean overall and with each sea basin.
o Developing working groups and roadmaps for action with Mission Ocean overall and with each sea basin.
o Allocating time, effort and resources and implementing concrete actions on agreed projects and priorities.

The WOC will provide the secretariat and support to ensure private sector engagement with Mission Ocean and each sea basin will continue through the ongoing commitment of the coastal/marine business community to leadership, collaboration and action in support of Restoring European Ocean and Waters.