World Ocean Council announces theme and program for sustainable ocean summit 2017

Since 2010, the WOC Sustainable Ocean Summit (SOS) has been the unique gathering of the world’s ocean industries focused on sustainable development, science and stewardship of the global ocean. The international ocean business community will gather again this year to advance leadership and collaboration in developing industry-driven solutions to ocean sustainability challenges.

The SOS 2017 will:
• Focus on ocean business community leadership in achieving the U.N. “Ocean” Sustainable Development Goal - SDG 14.
• Develop business growth and investment opportunities in ocean sustainable development.
• Ensure continuity and follow through with the themes, discussions, and outputs from previous SOS events.
• Build on the results and momentum of the U.N. Ocean/SDG 14 Conference (June 2017), the “Our Ocean” conference (October 2017) and other ocean events of 2017 by bringing these to the unique convening of the global ocean business community that the SOS provides.

The SOS 2017 theme recognizes:
• The growth of the Ocean Economy and its contribution to food, energy, transport, communications and other needs of society as part of the U.N. SDG process/Agenda 2030.
• The role of the Ocean Business Community over the next 15 years, and beyond, in ensuring ocean sustainable development.