Via our Namibian Friends, SWAKOPMUND MATTERS (12-2012)

 The Secretary-General stressed several all important points. Among those are the following when he elaborated on the “precarious state of the marine environment”.

“The seas and oceans host some of the most vulnerable and important ecosystems on Earth. But the diversity of life they host is under ever-increasing strain.  
 
There is much we can do, here and now, to improve the state of our seas and oceans.
  
What we need is to create new momentum for ocean sustainability.
 
That is why I have decided to launch, today, a new initiative to strengthen United Nations system-wide work on oceans matters and support the implementation of the Law of the Sea.  
 
The Oceans Compact sets out a strategic vision for the UN System to deliver more coherently and effectively on its oceans-related mandates, consistent with the Rio+20 outcome.
 
It provides a platform for all stakeholders to collaborate towards achieving “Healthy Oceans for Prosperity.”  
 
The Compact has three inter-related objectives to advance this goal.
 
The first is “Protecting people and improving the health of the oceans.”
 
The second focuses on “Protecting, recovering and sustaining the oceans’ environment and natural resources, and restoring their full food production and livelihoods services.”
 
The third deals with “Strengthening ocean knowledge and the management of oceans.” Realizing the objectives of the Oceans Compact will require the implementation of an integrated and results-oriented Action Plan.
 
To elaborate the Plan, to facilitate stakeholder dialogue and to catalyze support, I propose to create an Ocean Advisory Group of high-level policy-makers, scientists and leading ocean experts, representatives from the private sector and civil society and Executive Heads of involved UN system organizations.

In a background note the United Nations gave the following observation:

"Agree to a compact on oceans that will address overfishing and pollution by improving the governance of oceans and coastal habitats and by developing an institutional and legal framework for the protection of ocean biodiversity".