COVID-19 has been a wakeup call for the international ocean community as it entered the uncharted waters of converging challenges of global security, climate change, recurrent economic financial crisis and deteriorating health of the ocean.

As result of the combined effect of COVID-19, with the consequence of years of neglect of the ocean, and the nexus of ocean and climate change, the ocean community faced a challenging year navigating, a new normal, aspiring to contribute to achieving the SDGs of 2030 agenda and a binding legal under UNCLOS instrument for the for the governance of BBNJ.

However, as we entered the new norm, of living with the COVID, multilateral cooperation for capacity building of blue economy appeared to be more elusive and challenging. Undeterred we must commit to place a primary focus and objectives of ocean sustainability by  raising awareness and imparting knowledge, skills, and tools in an interrelated and interdependent governance of ocean and coastal living and non-living resources and their sustainability as the overarching objective of harnessing the benefits and opportunities of a blue economy living with the  ocean and from the ocean where the nexus of ocean coast and rural sustainability remains our global collective endeavour.

It is our conviction that the age of ocean neglect and lethargy has come to an end given the global commitment today to the UN Decade for Ocean Science for Sustainability, UN Decade for Ecosystem Restorations, Ocean Alliances and Ocean Foundations and an outstanding emergence of citizens sciences, global monitoring systems, digitisation of ocean literacy has placed the oceans at the centre of the sustainable development agenda.

Take this opportunity to immerse yourself in the fathomless world of related ocean governance that is science based and be prepared to accept fundamental change and commitments for the benefits of all humankind –and particularly link all these processes   for a sustainable future for generations to come.

That will be our part in the redemption we all seek for the unconscionable damage and neglect inflicted by humans on the health of the ocean in the past.

IOI stands ready to contribute to capacity development through its programmes of training, education, publications and ocean literacy.