WEBCAST | Connecting the dots: an Arctic Ocean network for the conservation of marine life

This Arctic Circle Webcast Session provided participants and a broad spectrum of audiences the opportunity to showcase, exchange views on, and discuss cooperation opportunities linked to Arctic marine conservation efforts and to ArcNet– an Arctic Ocean network of Priority Areas for Conservation.

Starting with a brief introduction to ArcNet, the session let a number of invited participants from diverse Arctic backgrounds express their views on, and experiences with, marine conservation and conservation initiatives. The remainder of the session was dedicated to facilitated exchanges between panel members and the audience.

Speakers:
Martin Sommerkorn, Head of Conservation WWF Arctic Programme
Lauren Devine, Director, Ecosystem Conservation Office at Aleut Community of St. Paul Island
Barnie Aggark, Chesterfield Inlet, Nunavut, Canada
Lauren Wenzel, Director, National Marine Protected Areas Center at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Moderator: 
John Morrison, Director of Conservation Planning and Measures at WWF-US

What is ArcNet?

ArcNet – an Arctic Ocean network of Priority Areas for Conservation is an innovative and collaborative approach to designing and establishing an ocean-scale network of protected and conserved areas that is geared to enable broad participation, accelerate implementation, and serve as a unifying and overarching vision for conservation efforts at local to international scales.

With ocean life across the Arctic under mounting pressure from climate change and expanding industrial activities, with Arctic marine ecosystems and species being the basis for the livelihood, health and cultural identity of Indigenous and local communities, ecosystem-based adaptation and sustainable blue economies, and with nations from around the world committing this year to the most ambitious conservation targets yet, a framework that enables broad participation to reconcile ocean usage and conservation while also supporting the needs and diversity of marine life across a connected ocean is key to success.

The objective of the session is to broaden awareness of ArcNet across regional and global audiences and to support improved understanding of, and opportunities linked to the inclusive and implementation-enabling conservation approach the ArcNet framework supports.