Jane Lubchenco, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator, will discuss the fact that it is a critical time for our oceans and coasts. The oceans are changing; our uses of the oceans are changing; our expectations and demands of the oceans and coastal areas are changing. The decisions we make now will impact the global health of the oceans for generations. They will impact the vibrancy of our coastal ecosystems, and they will impact the communities and economies dependent on the ocean resources. Now is the time for engagement if we wish to redirect the global trajectory and transition to sustainable uses and to healthy oceans and coasts



Enric Sala is a marine ecologist who fell in love with the sea growing up on the Mediterranean coast of Spain. Witnessing the harm people do to the oceans led him to dedicate his career to understand and find ways to mitigate human impacts on marine life. He will discuss the state of the oceans and what is needed to affect and manage policy.