Digital technologies for ocean management in focus at the East Asian Seas Congress

The 2024 event united 855 participants from 20 countries

The critical role of digital technologies in marine research and conservation was among the key topics of the 8th East Asian Seas Congress, held in Xiamen, China in early November, 2024.

Hosted by the Ministry of Natural Resources of China, the Xiamen Municipal People’s Government and Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia ( PEMSEA ), under the theme of “Blue Synergy for a Shared Future: One Sustainable and Resilient Ocean”, the triennial congress featured 71 speakers across 35 sessions.

Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) Chief Executive Professor Icarus Allen was an invited keynote speaker in the first plenary session on ‘Innovations and Ocean’ which brought together thought leaders at the forefront of various technological and financial innovations to share their visions and experiences in driving positive transformation in ocean and coastal management.

Drawing on PML’s expertise in areas such long-term ocean monitoring, marine spatial planning, AI and marine autonomy, Professor Allen delivered a presentation on ‘Innovation Digitizing Ocean Action’ which included:

• digital technology for data collection and monitoring
• digital platforms for cooperation (including examples of digital tools related to sustainable ocean resource management, including smart fisheries management and marine renewable energy)
• implications for the Blue Economy and climate-smart marine spatial planning.

In partnership with the Global Ocean Forum, PML also co-organised an online session titled ‘Leveraging the ocean-climate biodiversity nexus in accelerating the implementation of ocean-climate action’ featuring a keynote speech from Ambassador Peter Thomson, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean.

The session included an introduction to the UN Climate Change meeting COP29 Virtual Ocean Pavilion, now in its fourth year running, from PML’s Deputy Head of the International Office, Thecla Keizer. Watch the session in full below:

A shared vision

Held in conjunction with the Congress, representatives from PEMSEA country partners convened for the 8th East Asian Seas Ministerial Forum (PEMSEA’s highest policy-making platform). Partners signed the Xiamen Declaration which underscores their shared vision to implement the SDS-SEA Plan 2023-2027 and reaffirm alignment with global frameworks, including the UN SDGs, Paris Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, among others.

The Declaration outlined a series of actions across four focus areas:

• Effective Ocean Governance: Advocating integrated, data-driven ocean management, capacity building, and balanced approaches to supporting marine ecosystem, economies, and livelihoods.
• Healthy and Resilient Oceans: Scaling integrated coastal management (ICM), promoting ocean-based climate solutions, and exploring blue carbon markets.
• Sustainable Blue Economy: Encouraging blue financing and integrating ridge-to-reef frameworks in policies to achieve environmental goals.
• Healthy People: Prioritizing blue food, integrating health to ICM Framework, and ecosystem resilience to align with global development targets.

Related information

Conclusions are recommendations from the event can be found via: EASC 2024 Conclusions & Recommendations (FINAL) v2.pdf

--

Icarus Allen

Thecla Keizer