REV Ocean signs key agreement to advance Ocean Leadership

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Signing with Bjørn Tore Markussen (from left), Nina Jensen, Anne Husebekk and the leader of the Polar research committee at UiT, Jørgen Berge.
Photo: Jonatan Ottesen/UiT

Tromsø, 27 January 2019 – REV Ocean, UiT The Arctic University of Norway and The Ocean Data Foundation today signed a partnership agreement to conduct joint ocean research, education, and innovation. The agreement will also involve cooperation on  a new Masters programme in Ocean Leadership.

Nina Jensen, CEO of REV Ocean said: We are delighted to be signing this important agreement with key partners who will help achieve our vision of One Healthy Ocean. Linking the best scientists and innovators from the UiT to our state-of-the-art research vessel, data platform, and global network of researchers will hopefully lead to a new generation of ocean leaders and solutions.

Through this agreement researchers at UiT The Arctic University of Norway will participate in coordinated research trips on-board “REV Ocean” and generate valuable data about ecosystems in the Arctic and other ocean areas. The agreement also includes cooperation with The Ocean Data Foundation, which among other things uses machine learning algorithms, and gives researchers new and unique opportunities to examine biological processes and find new opportunities for the use of data.

“This agreement will give exciting cooperation opportunities in ocean related projects and will strengthen the three institutions. We look forward to cooperating on-board the new research vessel that is currently under construction and expect the Ocean Data Foundation to facilitate deep dives into the open and global data registers for analysis and new knowledge”, said Anne Husebekk, rector at UiT the Arctic University of Norway.

This cooperation will be a significant contribution to REV Oceans core research areas including climate change, plastic pollution and unsustainable fishing practices. The new Master’s programme in Ocean Leadership will also involve understanding and improved decision-making based on comprehensive knowledge, integration and visualisation of data.

Kathrine Tveiterås, Dean of the Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, said: We have an open data policy at here at UiT. Working with large data is becoming increasingly more central, in both science and business. It is therefore important to educate people that have the expertise to understand where the data comes from and what it means.

We look forward to cooperating on ocean research at UiT and make data better and more available, so that we can find sustainable ocean solutions for research and industry, said Bjørn Tore Markussen, CEO for Ocean Data Foundation. 

More about REV Ocean here:
https://www.revocean.org/

Media contacts: 
Lawrence Hislop
Communication Manager
REV Ocean
lawrence.hislop@revocean.org
+47 48500514

Karine Nigar Aarskog
Seniorrådgiver
UiT Norges arktiske universitet
karine.n.aarskog@uit.no
+47 95158407

Engaging youth to save the ocean

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Oslo,  17 January 2020 – REV Ocean signs new partnership agreement with the Norwegian environmental youth agents, Miljøagentene. The agreement will link young ocean enthusiasts with REV Ocean’s science and communication priorities and will focus on the following core areas:

  • Identifying or developing a citizen science and education app for children with the purpose of generating interest among children for the organisms and ecosystems in our marine environments.   
  • Including an Eco-Agent from Miljøagentene in REV Ocean’s International Advisory Board for the purpose of considering the perspective of children and constantly reminding REV Ocean of our accountability to future generations.    
  • Visits on-board the vessel, principally during the vessel’s maiden voyage along the Norwegian coast, tentatively summer 2021.  
  • Developing ocean-related educational resources and or activities for children.  

Ocean Challenge 2020: from Nina Jensen and Alex Rogers

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Commentary by Nina Jensen and Alex Rogers (original article here in Norwegian)

The year 2020 is a big one for the ocean. Several of the targets for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14, which is aimed at conservation and sustainable use of the ocean, are due as a stepping-stones towards achievement of the 2030 agenda. These include: sustainable management and protection of marine ecosystems, including the conservation of 10% of the ocean; to effectively regulate all fishing and to end harmful subsidies that contribute to overcapacity of fishing fleets and overfishing. In March the fourth and final Intergovernmental Conference on a new internationally binding agreement on conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) will take place. Then in June, in Lisbon, there is the UN Ocean Conference, followed by the Our Oceans Conference in Palau in August. Two other meetings of high significance for the ocean take place in the final quarter of 2020. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is holding its 15th Conference of Parties in Beijing in October where the strategy for the convention will be set for the following decade. This is followed in November by the 26th Meeting of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Glasgow, the last meeting before the Paris Agreement comes into force in 2021.

 With all this attention on the ocean 2020 might be welcomed as a year of potential positive change for the ocean. Some signs are good. It is estimated that at present 7.63% of the ocean is covered by marine protected areas, an area of over 27 million km2. This seems to be well on the way to the 2020 target for SDG14 as well as the CBD’s Aichi Target 11 to conserve 10% of marine ecosystems. Looking at the exclusive economic zones of coastal states, national waters this climbs to nearly 18% cover. However, areas beyond national jurisdiction, which represent about 61% of the ocean only have 1.18% of area protected. Fishing is the largest driver of depletion of marine species and out on the high seas catches of sharks and seabirds are driving many iconic animals to extinction. The impacts are not only at the level of species, but entire deep-water ecosystems continue to be damaged or destroyed through the effects of bottom fishing, especially trawling on sensitive habitats such as cold-water coral reefs, sponge grounds and seamounts. This year will see the critical BBNJ succeed, be delayed or fail to achieve a legal framework for spatial conservation measures on the high seas.

In terms of regulation of fisheries we are not doing so well. There is evidence that reduction of fishing effort in the waters of developed States, such as in northern Europe, Canada, the USA and Australia and New Zealand has allowed many fish stocks to stabilise and some to recover significant biomass (e.g. Norwegian spring spawning herring). However, many small fish stocks and many of those in the waters of developing coastal States and international waters are still overfished. There is evidence that in some cases developed States have exported their overfishing problems to the waters of developing States. Although the statistics are unclear somewhere between a third to two thirds of fish stocks are overfished and the proportion is still increasing. As well as a significant food-security issue this represents an estimated global economic loss of US$83 billion. Part of the issue is that a quarter of fisheries remain unassessed. For small fish stocks and those in the waters of developing States expensive modern fisheries stock assessment and management methods are not appropriate. Instead, methods of fishery assessment based on assessing trends in catches over time and community-based management approaches are needed. These need investment to become operational and financial assistance will inevitably be required to bring these fisheries to a state of sustainability. It is in such regions that problems of illegal fishing are most prevalent so continued international efforts to eliminate this scourge such as through ratification of the Port States Measures Agreement are needed urgently. Negotiations on fisheries subsidies at the World Trade Organisation are also due to be completed with an agreement at the 12th Ministerial Conference in June.Underlying these issues are the global effects of climate change. This years IPCC Special Report on the Oceans and Cryosphere underlined the large-scale and accelerating change that marine ecosystems are experiencing as a result of climate change. The ocean is warming, becoming more acidic, losing oxygen and sea levels are rising faster than previously predicted. This has already caused large-scale changes in the distribution of marine species and led to the destruction of iconic marine ecosystems including most notably coral reefs, the most biodiverse habitat in the ocean. The science is very clear, if we move beyond 1.5oC of warming, coral reefs will become largely extinct and many other ecosystems such as mangrove forests, seagrass beds and salt marshes will be at risk. Fisheries production is likely to decline and stocks are already moving polewards. Whilst some developed States in regions such as the northern Atlantic may benefit from these changes developing states in the tropics are highly vulnerable. The present commitments to the Paris Agreement put the Earth on a trajectory for a 3.2oC temperature rise by the end of the century. This essentially represents a different planet to the one that human civilisation has grown in. For many ocean ecosystems and people living on low-lying islands or coastal zones the results will be devastating. The 26th Conference of Parties for the UNFCCC will therefore be a watershed moment when governments of the world decide whether to avert an ecocidal catastrophe or to continue playing an international game of bluff that will end in the extinction of ocean species, habitats and the death of many people.

The stakes for 2020 could not be higher for the ocean and for us.

Bloomberg Philanthropies and REV Ocean host VIP reception on ocean solutions

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Bloomberg Philanthropies and REV Ocean hosted a high profile event with participation from over 100 CEOs and dignitaries from the public and the private sector who are directly or indirectly linked to oceans, ranging from technology to energy, construction, insurance and shipping. 

The Norwegian Prime Minister, Erna Solberg, founder and chair of the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy opened the event, followed by inspirational speeches from Patti Harris, CEO of Bloomberg Philanthropies and Nina Jensen, CEO of REV Ocean.  

The gathering helped build momentum for private sector engagement following the Climate Action Summit at the UN General Assembly in September and emphasised ocean solutions ahead of the upcoming “Blue” COP in Chile in December 2019.

The theme throughout the evening was that we can turn the tide on ocean degradation together. The ocean is a dynamic, interconnected ecosystem that can bounce back with the help of robust data, science-based action and strong partnerships.  

We need to focus on solutions, not problems, on actions that do good, and not only feel good.  We know private sector actors must, can and will be part of the solutions to ensure that key ocean ecosystems, and the companies relying on them, can survive and thrive.

Aker and REV Ocean Pledge USD 11 million to Technology Initiatives for a Healthy Ocean

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Oslo, 23 October 2019 – The Aker Group, REV Ocean and The Resource Group (TRG) today announced a joint pledge of USD 11 million to three initiatives dedicated to developing disruptive technology solutions for a healthy and productive ocean.

“Throughout its 180-year history, the Aker group has been a driving force in the development of knowledge-based industry related to ocean resources. All our industrial activities are part of the ocean economy,” said Aker President and CEO Øyvind Eriksen.

“Today, our ocean is at risk and changes are needed. I strongly believe that solutions for the ocean are developed more robustly and swiftly if businesses like Aker join forces with governments, NGOs and other stakeholders. A healthier ocean is a shared interest,” he said.

The USD 11 million pledge will go towards three initiatives, covering costs for the next three years.  The initiatives include the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) in Norway, which will receive USD 6 million, the Ocean Data Platform receiving USD 3 million, and the Plastic REVolution which is being granted USD 2 million. The initiatives will contribute towards preserving and sustainably using the ocean and marine resources through strong private sector engagement and technology drivers.

“We will create disruptive technology solutions for Our Ocean, starting with gathering and sharing facts. The Ocean Data Platform, launched yesterday, will gather and liberate data, enabling solutions and people – for one healthy ocean. Secondly, we will unite the right people. In the technology centre for the Ocean, we invite public and private partners to create collaborative solutions for the environment. And lastly, we translate ideas into action, through initiatives such as the  Plastic REVolution Foundation, which was created to develop commercially viable and scalable solutions to fight plastic pollution,” said Nina Jensen, CEO of REV Ocean.

About the three initiatives:

The Affiliated Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Norway (C4IR Norway) is being developed by the Aker Group and TRG’s philanthropic initiatives. Focusing on the ocean health and wealth, it will be the only center in the World Economic Forum’s C4IR Network that is dedicated to the environment. The Centre will cooperate with the business community, research institutions, and in close dialogue with the Government of Norway, the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy and others to design and pilot technology solutions and innovative policy frameworks. The center, which will be a non-profit foundation, aims to take a global leadership role in environmental innovation for the ocean leveraging on emerging 4IR technologies.

The Ocean Data Platform (ODP) is being developed by the Ocean Data Foundation, a philanthropic initiative by Kjell Inge Røkke, in close cooperation with REV Ocean. The ODP aims to liberate ocean data and connect people, data and technology to drive an ocean sustainability movement. The platform enables the entire ocean community such as academia, business and ocean policy /management to collaborate and share data for one healthy ocean by offering digital tools and services with easy access to data, immersive visualisation, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools.

The Plastic REVolution Foundation is a philanthropic entity founded by Kjell Inge Røkke. It works closely with REV Ocean. It is created to develop commercially viable and scalable solutions to fight plastic pollution. The Foundation’s initial project is a plastic-to-liquid chemical recycling plant in Accra, Ghana, coupled with plastic waste collection systems.

For further information, please contact:

Aker group:
Atle Kigen, Head of Communications
atle.kigen@akerasa.com
Tel: +47 907 84 878

REV Ocean:
Lawrence Hislop, Communications Manager
lawrence.hislop@recocean.org
Tel: + +47 48 50 05 14

 

The Liberation of Ocean Data Begins Today 

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Oslo, 22 October 2019 – The Ocean Data Platform (ODP) was officially launched today in connection with the Our Ocean Conference in Oslo. This signals a major breakthrough in collecting and connecting ocean data for the public, industry, science and governments.  

Bjørn Tore Markussen, the CEO of the Ocean Data Foundation, says: “Today we see that ocean data is often stored away in silos or is difficult to access for various reasons. By giving business, science, industry and the public unique access to this vast amount of information and inviting them to share their relevant data, we will be in a much better position to both preserve and maximise the natural wealth of the ocean.” 

One of the biggest challenges facing global marine research is a lack of knowledge. There exists a number of smaller, but essential data initiatives and platforms in the world today, but no all-encompassing platform unifying them. The Ocean Data Platform is an initiative to change this, developed and operated by the supporting management company – the Ocean Data Foundation (ODF).  

ODP will break down the walls between different data sources and contextualise the information in a common format. The information will be collected from a global network of public and private partners, creating a central knowledge hub that combines data from specialized databases. This is being fueled by powerful and proven Cognite Data Fusion. 

The data will be publicly available, giving anyone who is passionate about solving the challenges facing the ocean the ability to create analytics services, applications and visualizations. 

The goal is to improve availability, access and analysis of global ocean data, strengthen the conservation of ocean resources, furthering governance policies, research and creating sustainable business opportunities for the blue economy. 

Ambassador Peter Thomson, UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean and Co-Chair of Friends of Ocean Action, says:  “The clock is ticking on our collective responsibility to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, and central to SDG 14 for a healthy ocean is the need to increase scientific knowledge and marine research capacity. Opening the bulk of ocean data, and making it available in a user-friendly, standardized and interoperable format, is a must for sustainable use of the ocean. The Ocean Data Foundation will be a key contributor to making this happen. Friends of Ocean Action has been working with REV Ocean to bring an ocean data platform to fruition, and I am excited to see it coming to life. This is excellent timing ahead of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for us to improve knowledge and understanding of the ocean – to give it the best chance of reaching a state of health, abundance and sustainable use.” 

The platform’s development is coordinated with REV Ocean and Cognite. REV Ocean is a not-for-profit company created with one overarching purpose and ambition: To make the ocean healthy again. The core science programme of REV Ocean focusses on plastic pollution, climate change and unsustainable fishing.  

The technology company Cognite is a leading provider of structured and contextualized data that allows asset-intensive industries to gain value from digitalization. The ODP will be supervised by an international advisory board.  

Nina Jensen, CEO of REV Ocean, says:  “The Ocean Data Platform will provide valuable knowledge of ocean challenges, opportunities and mysteries, and be central to ensuring one healthy ocean, which is our overarching mission”. 

Dr. John Markus Lervik, CEO of Cognite, says: “ODP, launched by the Ocean Data Foundation which is a key partner in C4IR Norway, will be the most ambitious and innovative use of data for increasing ocean sustainability. It will be a global, unifying platform that will enable unbiased research and facilitate a data-driven debate, leading to better decision-making about how best to conserve and use ocean resources.” 

In the short term, the platform will work to sign lighthouse partners that we can learn from, grow with and deliver value to. Partnership agreements have been signed with The Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Sintef Ocean and WWF. 

 

REV Ocean to champion ocean health in strategic partnership with International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

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Oslo, 22 October 2019 – REV Ocean and IUCN sign memorandum of understanding to conduct joint research projects onboard the REV Ocean vessel, and harness key data sources globally.  The partnership will support innovative expeditions that investigate ocean health and leverage the unique science capabilities of REV Ocean.    

One of the main outputs of the partnership will be developing joint reports, workshops, and outreach material, especially in relation to core research areas such as ocean acidification, plastic pollution and climate change.   

Nina Jensen, CEO of REV Ocean said: “This partnership extends our global reach towards important ocean stakeholders and provides synchronicity with our sister programmes like the Ocean Data Foundation (ODF). The collaboration with IUCN will bolster the impact of our core research areas and make the best use of our research vessel capabilities. This will be a major boost to our mission of ensuring one healthy ocean.” 

IUCN will contribute to position REV Ocean in relationship with other data providers, particularly IUCN members and build partnerships of mutual benefit. This includes support to data acquisition and management in the area of Coral Reefs, Mangroves, Marine Protected Areas, Marine Spatial Planning, High Seas Biodiversity and Governance, Marine Conservation Project Implementation, Plastic in the Ocean, Marine Invasive Species, Ocean Acidification, Ocean Deoxygenation and Oceans and Climate Change linkages.  

Minna Epps, Director Global Marine and Polar Programme said: ”A key part of IUCN’s mission is to produce cutting edge marine science to inform decision-makers and policymakers and to drive transformative change in the governance processes at local, national and global scales.  The partnership with REV Ocean will be instrumental in the success of filling key knowledge gaps with respect to the most pressing and poorly-understood challenges facing our oceans and poles.” 

About IUCN
IUCN is a membership Union composed of both government and civil society organisations. It harnesses the experience, resources and reach of its more than 1,100 Member organisations and the input of more than 15,000 experts. IUCN is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it. 

About REV Ocean
REV Ocean is a not-for-profit company created with one overarching purpose and ambition: To make the ocean healthy again.  Any profit generated from our projects will be reinvested into our work for a healthier ocean. This global initiative is established and funded by Norwegian businessman Kjell Inge Røkke.  

For further information and imagery
https://www.revocean.org/

Media contact: 
Lawrence Hislop
Communication Manager
REV Ocean
lawrence.hislop@revocean.org
+47 48 50 05 14 

James Oliver
Global Marine and Polar Programme
IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
28 rue Mauverney, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland
Tel. +41 22 999 0217
Twitter: @IucnOcean
james.oliver@iucn.org
www.iucn.org/marine
www.iucncongress2020.org