Global Maritime Accord – Academy to Host Webinar on Plastics and Overfishing

On 8 June 2025, in honour of World Oceans Day, the Global Maritime Accord – Academy (GMA.A) will convene its sixth public webinar, focusing on two of the most pressing threats to ocean health: plastic pollution and overfishing.

Titled "Plastics and Overfishing – Key Challenges for Ocean Health," the event brings together a distinguished panel of speakers from multiple continents, including marine scientists, naval strategists, sustainability experts, and youth leaders. The initiative is part of a growing global movement to shape collaborative frameworks for the future governance of marine ecosystems, particularly in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ).

The Global Maritime Accord (GMA) is a unique and pioneering effort that brings together civil society, academia, policy institutions, and military organisations to draft a cohesive and just framework for sustainable ocean governance. The GMA Academy (GMA.A), coordinated by the Liechtenstein Institute for Strategic Development (LISD), serves as the educational and research arm of this initiative.

Event Overview

Title: GMA Academy Webinar 6
Theme: Plastics and Overfishing – Key Challenges for Ocean Health
Date: 8 June 2025
Time:

  • UTC: 1200

  • EST: 0800

  • BST: 1300

  • CEST: 1400

  • IST: 1730

  • AEST: 2200

Registration: To register, email GMA@eurisd.org with your full name, affiliation, preferred email, and contact number. Webinar access details will be sent on 5 June 2025.
Event page and past recordings: www.globalmaritimeaccord.org

Featured Speakers

  • Prof. Peter Droege – Founding Director, LISD (Liechtenstein)

  • Admiral (Ret.) Robin K. Dhowan – Chairman, SAMDeS (India); Former Chief of Naval Staff

  • Prof. Micheni Japhet Ntiba – Professor of Zoology and Marine Biology, University of Nairobi

  • Ms. Aamber Fatima – Senior Director, I.I.M.U.N., Mumbai; Youth Social Impact Leader

  • Mr. Ulhas Parlikar – Global Consultant, Waste Management and Circular Economy

  • Commodore (Ret.) Sujeet Samaddar – Program Mentor; SAMDeS and MRAI Adviser

These contributors will address the environmental, scientific, and governance-related dimensions of marine degradation, and will explore both policy and practice-based interventions.

Context and Readings

Participants are encouraged to engage with the following materials in preparation for the event:

Foreground Reading:

Background Reading:

  • Beyond Paris: Emergency Imperatives for Global Policy and Local Action
    Published in Springer Nature’s Sustainable Earth Review:
    Read article

About the Global Maritime Accord

The GMA is the first global initiative designed to bring together stakeholders from across governance, science, civil society, and defence to draft a cohesive framework for ocean protection—especially in regions beyond national control. It works in alignment with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and focuses on protecting marine biodiversity in areas that currently suffer from fragmented or absent regulatory oversight.

Participating countries include Australia, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Germany, India, Kenya, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The Academy’s programming is supported by a coalition of partners, including:

  • Liechtenstein Institute for Strategic Development (LISD)

  • Society for Aerospace, Maritime and Defence Studies (SAMDeS)

  • The Trebuchet – Breaking Down Barriers / Building Bridges

  • International Military Council on Climate and Security (Netherlands)

  • Commonwealth Security and Resilience Group (UK)

This upcoming webinar marks an important moment in advancing collaborative thinking on sustainable ocean governance. For students, researchers, policy professionals, and ocean advocates, the session offers not just learning—but an invitation to contribute to shaping an emerging global accord.

For further details, visit: www.globalmaritimeaccord.org

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