The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and Innovation Norway Middle East hosted a seminar titled ‘Protecting our Oceans’ in Dubai for the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) and other UAE entities from the private and public sectors. The event focused on the role of new technologies and data sharing in protecting oceans.

Organized in partnership with DNV GL, Kongsberg Maritime, Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT), the Norwegian Oil Spill Control Association (NOSCA), Ocean Visuals and TOMRA, the seminar highlighted the importance of sustainable use of marine resources in achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. The participants concurred that collecting data on ocean ecosystems is the first step towards their protection.

The agenda featured keynote presentations by His Excellency Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, and His Excellency Sten Arne Rosnes, the newly appointed Norwegian Ambassador to the UAE. The distinguished speakers addressed a range of important topics, including responsible management of marine resources and sustainable future economic growth.

In his opening remarks, His Excellency Dr Al Zeyoudi said: “The fact that the UAE’s oceans are the healthiest in the Middle East region according to the latest Ocean Health Index reflect our steadfast commitment to marine conservation, but we still have a lot of work ahead of us. Despite the international measures being taken to restore balance in oceans, the pressure on the marine environment is massive. We all need to join forces and fast-track collective efforts to mitigate the common challenges facing our oceans. this seminar explores the latest methods of managing, monitoring and protecting our marine environment. ”

For his part, His Excellency Sten Arne Rosnes said: “Contributing to a more sustainable maritime economy is crucially important to the Norwegian government. Norway, like the UAE, relies heavily on marine resources. Both were traditionally fishing nations and later evolved into key players in the oil and gas industry. We therefore encourage initiatives, such as this seminar, that inspire companies and government officials to implement strategies for change in maritime collaborations. ”

Dr Per Christer Lund, Director of Innovation Norway Middle East, said: “Based on our dependence on and proximity to the ocean, Norwegian companies have developed world-leading technologies and solutions to harvest ocean resources in a sustainable manner. This seminar underscores that ocean data collection, processing and sharing are key success factors in global resource management and ocean protection. ”

Norway and the UAE share a keenness to enhance the sustainability of the maritime economy. Abu Dhabi hosted the World Ocean Summit in March 2019, while the Norwegian capital Oslo is set to welcome Our Ocean Conference in October 2019.