Stanford at the United Nations Ocean Conference
The second United Nations Ocean Conference, co-hosted by the governments of Kenya and Portugal, took place from June 27 – July 1, 2022 in Lisbon. As the official United Nations venue for convening ocean leaders, the event brought together non-governmental organizations, universities, entrepreneurs, and delegates from Member States to deliver on the targets for Sustainable Development Goal 14, which aims to conserve and sustainably use the ocean.
Delegates announced over 300 voluntary commitments and approximately 50 high-level commitments and pledges, including the launch of an Aquatic Blue Food Coalition co-founded by the Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions (COS). In addition to blue food, COS contributed to discussions on the blue economy, blue carbon, sustainable aquaculture, illegal fishing, mangrove and seagrass ecosystems and the Ocean Decade. COS attendees included Co-director Jim Leape, Research Scientist Michelle Tigchelaar, Research Assistant Katie Thompson, and André Hoffmann Ocean Innovation Fellows Alfredo Girón-Nava and Josheena Naggea. View event highlights below and explore how our latest research contributed to this year’s conference program.
Conference highlights
Sustainable Seafood
COS partnered on a new progress report that shares how companies can help transform the seafood sector.
The Future of Food is Blue
COS and the United States join a new multi-sectoral Aquatic Blue Food Coalition formally launched at the UN Ocean Conference.
Portraits of Change
A new video series launched in Lisbon highlights how policymakers can support small-scale fisheries and aquaculture.
The Ocean Decade
André Hoffmann Innovation Fellow Alfredo Girón-Nava spoke at an event about the goals of the UN Ocean Decade (2021 – 2030).
Next at the Helm
Achieving conference goals will require bridging early career ocean professionals with the current generation of leadership.
Redefining Sustainability
COS Co-director Fiorenza Micheli calls on policymakers to redefine sustainability in the blue food sector.
Related research
The Blue Food Assessment
Bringing together over 100 researchers from around the world, the Assessment supports decision-makers in evaluating opportunities and addressing challenges in the blue food sector through peer-reviewed research and science-based policy recommendations. The Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions is among the lead science partners.
Evaluating Risk in Seafood Supply Chains
A new report outlines how ocean data transparency can enable seafood companies to eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing from their supply chains and instead choose sustainable and ethical products.
Welcoming the Oceans Department
The Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, launching September 1, recently announced the creation of an Oceans Department. The new academic unit will bring together faculty across main campus and Hopkins Marine Station to focus on ocean sustainability and discovery.
