Thank you for joining us for the upcoming conference Common Currents: Examining How We Govern the Ocean Commons. We greatly appreciate you taking the time to prepare for and participate in the discussions. Below you will find information about the conference objectives and logistical information about making your travel arrangements. Please reach out to the conference organizers if you have any questions.
Conference Objective
We are convening experts in international ocean law, policy, economics, and science to discuss to what extent, and to what effect, we manage the oceans as a global commons. We strive to identify when and how we have managed ocean resources or areas as a commons, and to analyze and evaluate the efficacy of such efforts. Over the course of two days we will engage in a series of panel discussions about key areas and resources. The discussions will span jurisdictional boundaries and engage cross-disciplinary expertise.
By examining how we are managing the ocean commons and the status of such efforts, we hope to identify opportunities to improve the current governance regimes, draw lessons learned from one area that could be applied to another, and delineate fields where commons management is inapplicable. The goal is a holistic review of the extent to which we are managing the ocean as a commons and recommendations for next steps.
Cross-cutting themes:
- Rise in ocean science and technology and what that means for UNCLOS and other governance instruments
- Regime interactions and creating linkages across instruments and institutions
Conference Outcomes
There are two primary outcomes anticipated from the conference:
- Expert discussions. We hope the discussions will stimulate expanded thought on the subject and be beneficial for the experts involved. If useful, upon request the organizers will produce a synthesis document of key takeaways for participants to build on.
- Publications. Every speaker is invited to contribute a written piece following the conference. These contributions will be compiled into a high-quality proceedings volume to capture and share the ideas presented. Please let the conference organizers know if you are unable to provide a written contribution.
Logistics
Location: International House (500 Riverside Dr, New York, NY 10027)
Lodging: Hotel Beacon (2130 Broadway, New York, NY 10023)
Schedule:
- Wednesday, 19 Sept – Welcome Reception (Beacon Hotel, 18.30)
- Thursday, 20 Sept – Conference Day 1 (International House, 9.00) & Speakers Dinner (Cesca, 19:00)
- Friday, 21 Sept – Conference Day 2 (International House, 9.00)
- Saturday, 22 Sept – Departures
Speaker Travel Arrangements
- Speaker Travel Instructions (PDF)
- Speaker UC Berkeley Substitute W9 (required for US Citizens and Permanent Residents)
Conference Program
Day One
Time | Topic |
---|---|
9:00 |
Welcome & Introductions Jordan Diamond (LOSI), Moon Sang Kwon (KIOST), and Jeong-Ho Roh (CKLS) |
9:30 |
Panel 1: The Seabed as a Common Resource
|
10:50 | Coffee |
11:10 |
Panel 2: The Approaches of the Polar Regions
|
12:30 | Lunch in the Hall of History |
14:00 |
Panel 3: Managing Fish as a Common Resource
|
15:20 | Coffee |
15:40 |
Panel 4: Institutional Approaches to Managing a Commons
|
17:00 | Close of Day One |
19:00 | Speakers Dinner at Cesca Restaurant |
Day Two
Time | Topic |
---|---|
9:00 |
Panel 5: Marine Scientific Research Supporting Commons Governance
|
10:30 | Coffee |
11:00 |
Panel 6: Managing Biodiversity as a Common Resource
|
12:30 | Lunch in the Hall of History |
14:00 |
Key Takeaways about the Sessions Rapporteurs summarize key takeaways from each of the panel discussions |
14:30 |
Discussion: The Future of the Oceans – Divided or Commons? Group discussion about if, when, and how we govern the ocean as a commons |
16:00 | Wrap-up & Adjournment |
Organizers & Sponsors: