The World Ocean Science Congress will be held here for four days from February five next year, the focal theme of which is 'Protect Oceans for Posterity'.
Nearly 2000 delegates, including 200 from abroad, from different sectors like defence, energy, pharmaceutical, fishing, navigation, seafood industry, remote sensing and other operational oceanographic services were expected to participate, Dr Shailesh Nayak, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences and General President of WOSC, told reporters here today.
Indian Ocean was one among the least understood and managed oceans of the world. Lack of effective regional cooperation, population pressure on coastal belts, socio economic constraints and an open access fishery regime compound this further, he said.
The 50th year of the International Indian Ocean Expedition provides an appropriate background for the 'Indian Ocean Summit' as part of WOSC.
The summit is expected to bring together representatives from the Indian Ocean Rime (IOR) countries to facilitate better understanding and management of Indian Ocean through regional cooperation.
Ocean resources, climate change, ecosystems services, operational oceanographic services, ocean and national security and ocean policy are the various theme of the congress, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KFUOS) Vice Chancellor Prof B Madhusoodan Kurup said.
The Congress is jointly being organised by KFUOS and Swadeshi Science Movement, Kerala.
Special sessions for students and competitions will also be held. There will also be a meeting of stakeholders of coastal communities to evolve approaches towards effective transfer of technologies and inclusive development.
