Atlantic Ocean nations join pact to cooperate on marine science

The United States joined with leaders of six nations and the European Union today in Washington, D.C., to sign the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance (AAORIA) Declaration, in which the nations pledge to cooperate on ocean research for the environmental health and sustainable development of the Atlantic Ocean. 

Offering the All-Atlantic Ocean keynote

NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad said: 'The ocean is a vital source of data to drive the new blue economy - our capability & capacity to address environmental and societal challenges.' Courtesy of All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance

The declaration acknowledges a shared commitment to advancing marine research and building on previous cross-Atlantic collaborations. Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Cabo Verde, Morocco and South Africa also signed the agreement.The declaration signatories were joined by officials from Colombia, the United Kingdom, the Dominican Republic, Norway, and Ghana, who also expressed their country’s respective commitment to Atlantic Ocean research and collaboration.

“The All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance is essential to NOAA, the United States and the world,” said Rick Spinrad, Ph.D., NOAA Administrator, who offered the keynote remarks before the signing ceremony. “The Atlantic Ocean is an invaluable resource shared by all Atlantic nations, and beyond. Effective cooperation in marine research and innovation is required to inform the sustainable management of human activities and to ensure a healthy ocean for all the communities that depend on it now and in the future.”  

During this week’s All-Atlantic forum in Washington, scientists and senior leaders from around the Atlantic took part in discussions on a range of topics, including the need to boost ocean literacy, ocean research capacity building, pollution reduction, ocean-climate science, ocean observing, marine ecosystems, sustainable ocean economy, as well as sustainable aquaculture and fisheries.

Celebrating the new cooperation agreement

Signers of the All-Atlantic Ocean Research & Innovation Alliance Declaration are, from left to right, José Luis Livramento, Ambassador of Cabo Verde to the United States; Sanna Zebakh, Director of Cooperation and Partnership, Moroccan Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation; Imraan Patel, Deputy Director General, Department of Science and Technology, South Africa; Dr. Marcelo Morales, Secretary of Research and Scientific Formation, Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovations and Communications, Brazil; Adrián Nador, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Argentina; Stavros Lambrinidis, Ambassador of the European Union to the United States; Jennifer R. Littlejohn, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, U.S. Department of State; and Mike Kelloway, Parliamentary Secretary to Canada's Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard. Credit: Courtesy of All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance

AAORIA is the result of science diplomacy efforts involving countries from throughout the Atlantic Ocean basin. It builds upon the success of two existing cooperative agreements - the Galway Statement on Atlantic Ocean Cooperation which was signed by the EU, United States, and Canada in 2013; and the Belem Statement on Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Cooperation, which was signed by the EU, Brazil, and South Africa in 2017, as well as on a number of other  bilateral and multilateral agreements. 

Any organization or institute from an Atlantic nation is encouraged to engage in the joint science, research and innovation activities of the AAORIA. International organizations with interest in working in the Atlantic are also welcome to participate in and contribute to AAORIA activities. Participants do not need to be signatories to the declaration signed today in order to participate in AAORIA activities. 

For more information on the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance, please visit the AAORIA website.

For more information, please contact Monica Allen, director of public affairs for NOAA Research, at monica.allen@noaa.gov or 202-379-6693.