Call for EU flag to phase out flags of convenience

A group of 17 scientists, researchers and experts active in oceanography and coastal management, representing ten countries including Malta, recently presented a paper calling for an EU flag as an incentive to phase out flags of convenience, and stressing the importance of no compromise in the area of fishing, particularly illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

The group was in Malta taking part in a five-week training course on Ocean Governance for the Mediterranean and Eastern European countries organised for the second time by the International Ocean Institute - Malta Operational Centre (IOI-MOC) at which the participants learned about and exchanged views on the laws, policy and science of ocean governance of the Mediterranean, the Black Sea, the Baltic Sea and the Caspian Sea.

The paper was presented during a day-long seminar on "Pondering on the EU Green Paper on Maritime Policy" held as part of the course, at which EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Joe Borg was a guest speaker.

Some 100 participants from various maritime- and legal-related sectors including academia, attended the seminar which was held to discuss some pertinent issues raised by the Green Paper regarding the cross-sectoral approach and regional linkages that the draft policy proposes.

The IOI-MOC course's underlying theme was the need to align the practice of ocean governance with advances in science and technology while focusing on the linkages between the natural, social and economic sciences in order to enable the realistic achievement of ocean management and sustainable development.

The course included simulation exercises and case studies that provided participants with the opportunity to apply theory to practice in decision-making processes relating to ocean policy development and coastal zone planning.

This hands-on approach ensured a high level of interaction between the participants, which will go a long way towards achieving the secondary aim of this IOI course - that of creating a network of practitioners in marine-related science, management and policy.

Various foreign and local lecturers contributed to the course, supported by local experts who contributed to the field trips and participated in other special sessions held throughout the course.

It was run by the IOI-Malta Operational Centre (www.capemalta.net) and was accredited by the University of Malta.

The course and some participants were sponsored by the International Ocean Institute, the Lighthouse Foundation and the United Nations University, EHS and the Special Unit for South-South Co-operation UNDP.

For further information on the course visit www.capemalta.net/news/EUGreenPaper/

Future IOI training courses will act as a tool for empowering talented and resourceful persons in new EU countries and neighbouring countries to achieving the goals of the EU Maritime Policy.