Global summit looks at oceans as source for food security and economic growthListen /
Senior government officials from around the world are gathering in The Hague, the Netherlands on Tuesday for a summit on the role of oceans in global food security, livelihoods and economic growth.
The four-day Global Oceans Action Summit for Food Security and Blue Growth is being convened by the Dutch government in close collaboration with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Bank.
The meeting is focusing on the challenges of feeding a growing global population.
It is discussing measures to be taken to meet internationally agreed targets for fisheries, aquaculture, habitat protection and the reduction of pollution.
The meeting is also looking at balancing the interests of the private and public sectors in promoting economic growth while conserving maritime resources and ensuring equitable benefits for communities.
According to the organizers of the summit, oceans cover about 72 per cent of the Earth's surface and are both an engine for global economic growth and a key source of food security."
Daniel Dickinson, United Nations