Maritime Awards Society of Canada

A message from Dan Lane, Chair – Ocean Management Research Network

In March of 2010, the OMRN met with representatives of several oceans and coastal network organizations in Canada at the ‘Oceans and Coasts Networks Summit’ to form the Oceans and Coasts Network-Canada (OCN-Canada). The purpose of these meetings was to discuss opportunities for coordinating our mutual efforts around raising awareness of our oceans and coasts. The summit resulted in an OCN-Canada Vision Statement that conceived the idea of a series of ‘Policy Briefs’ on oceans and coasts open to all members of our respective networks as a means of disseminating the interest and expertise of our collective memberships.

The OMRN invites current OMRN members to participate in the OCN-Canada Policy Briefs program, as a contributor and a reviewer. Topics for consideration as a ‘Policy Brief’ are specifically referred to in the OMRN 2009 Post-Conference Synthesis Summary Report. The summary report captures salient aspects of the 2009 OMRN Conference presentations representing the diverse interests of researchers, managers, students, NGOs, industry, and consultants on topics of our oceans and coasts and following the three conference themes: (i) Ocean’s Governance; (ii) Ocean’s Accountability; and (iii) Canada’s Arctic. As an OMRN member, your expert contribution to this series – to be disseminated widely – will be a welcome addition to what promises to be a provoking and ongoing series of interest to politicians, communities, academics, and the general public on important issues around our oceans and coasts. More details about the OCN-Canada Policy Brief process are available in the OCN-Canada Vision Statement and on the OMRN website, www.omrn-rrgo.ca/smc/home.php.

On behalf of the OMRN membership, join us in participating in the policy briefs program as a contributor and reviewer. We ask that you acknowledge your affiliation, expertise, and interest in the OCN Canada Policy Briefs program by completing the OCN Canada Policy Brief Submission Intent Form, and forwarding it to the OMRN Network Secretariat. Please note the deadline for submitting your intent form is November 30^th, 2010.

Marine Protected Areas and Integrated Ocean Enforcement in the 21st Century

November 23 and 24, 2009 | Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Canada hold the key to preserving a viable and healthy ocean ecosystem. Canadians need to think broadly when searching for cost-effective solutions for protecting the largest coastal resource on earth. (more…)

Please visit: http://www.omrn-rrgo.ca/smc/students.php to find out more about acting as a student rapporteur, participating in the conference sessions, or entering one of the student competitions.  There is also NEW information on Student Travel Awards (if you are currently a student or a recent ’09 grad and are thinking of coming to the conference you are encouraged to apply for a travel award).

To register for the conference please visit: http://www.omrn-rrgo.ca/smc/registration.php.  The student registration fee is $100.

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The International Ocean Governance Working Group (IOG WG) is organizing a paper session at the 2009 OMRN National Conference on the broad theme of International Arctic Ocean Governance. With the renewed focus on the Arctic due to the effects of climate change in the region, increased interest in the development of northern resources, and announcements by the Canadian government of new initiatives to assert Canadian sovereignty in the region, there are numerous calls both inside and outside of Canada for strengthening international governance structures for the Arctic Ocean region. This session will consider perspectives on IOG in relation to marine shipping and future marine resource developments in the Canadian Arctic.

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