Policymakers and ocean stakeholders gathered in Washington, DC last month for Capitol Hill Ocean Week 2019. The annual conference featured remarks from 10 Members of Congress, international, federal, state, and tribal agencies, NGOs, academia, businesses, and industry trade associations.
In addition to an emerging leaders panel, topics addressed “Powering Our Future,” “Ocean Disrupted,” “Transforming the Global Seafood Market,” “Protected Areas in a Changing Climate,” “Addressing the US Seafood Deficit,” “Combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing,” “Recreational Fishers as Conservation Partners,” “Breathing Easier in Port Cities,” “Toxins in the Aquatic Environment,” “Ocean 2050,” “Heartwired to Love the Ocean,” “The State of Shark and Ray Conservation,” “Over the Counter Conservation,” “Building Resilient Fishing Communities,” “Advancing Conservation with Zoos and Aquariums,” and “Whale Conservation in the 21st Century.”
Recurring themes included concerns about the impact of climate change on the oceans, bipartisan congressional efforts pass ocean-related legislation, the importance of partnerships, challenges and opportunities related to addressing marine debris, and the global nature of efforts to sustain ocean health.
