Minister of State with special responsibility for Fisheries at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications Timmy Dooley, TD, has commenced a three day visit to Busan, Korea where he will participate in the 10th Our Oceans Conference (OOC).
Ireland’s participation in the conference will; reaffirm Ireland’s commitment to international ocean protection frameworks, highlight Ireland’s leadership in sustainable fisheries, marine spatial planning and the development of marine protected areas. It will also strengthen Ireland’s partnerships with EU member States, EU Commission, Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and likeminded maritime states.
Speaking on his arrival in Busan, Minister Dooley commented: “This year the Our Ocean’s Conference celebrates its milestone, tenth anniversary and through my participation I hope to reaffirm Ireland’s commitment to sustainable ocean governance, marine biodiversity protection, and international cooperation.”
Minister Dooley’s attendance reflects and reinforces Ireland’s international reputation as a responsible ocean state and sets the scene for Ireland’s hosting of European Maritime Day 2025 in Cork in May and leads into the UN Ocean Conference which is being held in France in June 2025. Leadership from Ireland in these events coupled with Ireland’s EU Presidency in 2026 will be critical in respect of the EU Oceans Pact, a political initiative that aims to promote sustainable ocean management and ensure the health, resilience, and productivity of the oceans and thus the prosperity of the EU’s coastal communities.
Minister Dooley will speak at the high-level leaders opening dinner and in addition to his direct participation at the conference he will participate in a number of engagements at EU led events and bi-lateral meetings with other leaders.
The Our Ocean Conference began as a US initiative in 2014, spearheaded by former US Secretary of State, John Kerry. Today, it offers the global ocean community an opportunity to advance cooperation for our seas and oceans by pledging practical measures to support conservation and sustainability.
Minister Dooley concluded: “I am confident that this week’s discussions will lead to tangible, impactful actions, and will help us realise our shared OOC ambition of moving from an ocean in crisis to an ocean of hope.”