May

7 - 12

6th World Fisheries Congress Sustainable Fisheries in a Changing World, Edinburgh, UK.

WON will promote a responsible seafood consumption campaign, and present a European initiative, Mr.Goodfish programme.

12 - 12 August

International Exposition The Living Ocean and Coast and Ocean and Coast Best Practice Area (OCPBA), Yeosu, Korea.

The OCBPA will showcase the best practices selected from various ocean- and coast-related fields, link exhibitions with many different academic events and performances and promote the advancement of the global economy and science and technology.

In collaboration with Nausicaá and partners, WON will display an exhibition Ocean preservation is a concern for all of us in the Communication Lab and will hold sessions in the Participating Organisation Week in summer 2012. The exhibition will show the best practices of public awareness raising and education by aquaria, science and educational organisations around the world. The purpose is to promote sustainable behaviour, to encourage individual and collective initiatives towards a better management of marine resources and to bring together different cultures around sustainable stewardship of the World Ocean.

21 – 22

European Maritime Day Sustainable growth from the oceans, seas and coasts: blue growth conference and stakeholder days, Gothenburg, Sweden

WON will submit a proposal of an event about a new concept of Blue Society, a vision of well-being and equity for mankind in harmony with the world's ocean and in the new low-carbon green economy. The objective will be to reflect on how the great opportunities offered by the seas – raw material for food, marine resources, renewable energy, efficient transports and recreation – could bring solutions to major societal and environmental challenges and spur new social and economic benefits.

22

International Day for Biological Diversity. Marine Biodiversity is the theme for 2012. The designation of IDB 2012 on the theme of marine ecosystems provides Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and everyone interested in marine life, the opportunity to raise awareness of the issue and increase practical action.

29 May – 01 June

UNICPOLOS, 13^th meeting of the United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea (ICP13), New York, USA. The Consultative Process focuses on capacity-building in ocean affairs and the law of the sea, including marine science. WON will promote the Blue Society concept and the ocean education of general public to become part of international ocean governance and decision making processes.

31 May – 2 June

Ecsite annual conference Space and Time, Unlimited, Toulouse, France.

In collaboration with Nausicaá and partners, WON will present the Sea for Society European project, a new mobilisation and mutual learning action plan and the Mr.Goodfish sustainable seafood consumption programme in the Choosing the right fish… with the aim to mobilise professionals from science centres, natural history museums, universities, aquariums, zoos, research institutes and private companies and the public. WON will also take part in Nature Group session Citizen participation to research: gimmick or paradigm change?

June

8

World Oceans Day In conjunction with The Ocean Project, World Ocean Network will promote the mobilisation of young generations under the theme for 2012: Youth: The Next Wave for Change.

Youth Parliaments and forums for the Ocean will be organized to give the young generation the possibility to articulate their vision of sustainable development and to formulate their proposals for a sound stewardship of the World Ocean.

Register your event on www.worldoceannetwork.org to share celebration ideas and World Oceans Day tools.

11

3^rd Cap Rouge Day, an initiative of Lighthouse Foundation, World Ocean Observatory, and WON.

Show that you care about the future of the world’s oceans and seas by wearing and inviting others to wear a red cap on Captain Cousteau’s birth anniversary day.

13 - 15

Prep Comm III, United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

20 - 22

United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

In collaboration with the Global Ocean Forum, WON will lobby to advance the Agenda of Oceans, Coasts and Small Island States in the Rio+20 Process. As a leader of a multinational expert working group Public Education and Outreach, WON will promote a new ambitious concept of Blue Society, of well-being and equity for mankind in harmony with the world's ocean in the new low-carbon green economy and encourage.

WON and GOF work together to develop a system that will enable the interested publics to follow the Rio+20 ocean related discussions.
Join Rio+20 Friends of the Ocean.

September

6 - 8

10^th International Seafood Summit, Hong Kong. The summit will bring together representatives from seafood industry and conservation community to foster dialogue and partnerships around the issue of sustainable seafood.

WON will submit a proposal of a session about seafood consumer and stakeholder awareness raising campaigns and a European programme Mr.Goodfish.

6 - 15

IUCN World Conservation Congress, Jeju Island, Korea.

WON will present the concept of Blue Society Promoting a Blue Society – an ocean of opportunity. At Programme sur la consommation responsable des produits de la mer: Mr.Goodfish session, WON will showcase Mr.Goodfish, a European programme of sustainable seafood consumption.

9 – 14

Date TBC

8th International Aquarium Congress, Cape Town, South Africa.

In collaboration with partners, WON will submit session proposals about the responsible seafood consumption and the Mr.Goodfish programme, the Blue Society concept and the World Ocean Academy.

A Steering Committee of WON is planned to take place during the Congress.

October

31 – 4 November

39^th World Festival of Underwater Pictures, Marseille, France.

The World Festival of Underwater Pictures (FMISM), the major meeting place for all enthusiasts of underwater images and the marine environment, will bring together artistic, photographic and film productions related to the submarine world. It will promote the wealth of the underwater world whilst at the same time creating public awareness about marine environment and cultivating public wish to live in harmony with the sea.

WON will co-organise an Ocean International Public Debate.

Get Involved!

Organizations and individuals interested in participating in the World Ocean Network are kindly invited to register on Ocean Info Pack or http://www.worldoceannetwork.org/EN/page-ABOUT_US-Membership-2-58.htm

For further information regarding Blue Society and how to participate, please email Manuel CIRA info@worldoceannetwork.org or telephone +33 3 21 30 99 93.