CHANGING CURRENTS
Steering Committee
Jackie Alder
Research Associate,
Coastal Zone Management
Fisheries Centre,
University of British Columbia
Leah Bendell-Young
Professor, Biological
Sciences, Simon Fraser
University
Patricia Gallaugher
Director, Centre for Coastal
Studies and Continuing
Studies in Science,
Simon Fraser University
Sylvie Guénette
Research Associate, Marine
Mammal Research Unit,
Fisheries Centre, University
of British Columbia
Advisory Committee
Richard Haedrich
Professor, Biology,
Memorial University
of Newfoundland and;
former Co-chair, Marine
Fishes, Committee on Status
of Endangered Wildlife
in Canada
Peter Harrison
Senior Research Fellow,
Oceans, National Research
Council of Canada
Peter Heffernan
Chief Executive, Marine
Institute, Galway, Ireland
Marc Hershman
Professor, School of
Marine Affairs, Adjunct
Professor, School of Law,
University of Washington;
and Commissioner, U.S.
Commission on Ocean Policy
Richard Kenchington
Chair, International Coral
Reef Action Network;
Professor, Centre for
Maritime Policy,
University of Wollongong,
Australia and; Principal,
RAC Marine Pty Ltd.
Daniel Pauly
Director, Fisheries Centre,
University of British Columbia
and Pew Fellow in
Marine Conservation
Charting a Course of Action
for the Future of Oceans
February 23–26, 2005
Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue
Simon Fraser University
Summary Statement from Changing Currents Dialogue
February 26, 2005
Participants at Changing Currents: Charting a Course of Action for the Future of Oceans
concluded after three days of dialogue with a commitment to establish an international
network focused on aggressively advancing an agenda of action for the future sustainability
of the world’s oceans.
It was agreed that there is a need for stronger coordination and collaboration at and across
local, regional, national and international levels in order to achieve the sea change required
in ocean governance. There was strong support for: new leadership and institutional
reform, identification of resisters and enablers of change and identification of working
examples of success at local to global scales.
The PURPOSE of the Changing Currents network, which will be given leadership by Simon
Fraser University working in close cooperation with University of British Columbia and
other ocean-focused networks and organizations, will be to maintain the momentum
achieved in the conference, and to provide coordination and leadership to inform and
energize decisions and the actions to make tangible progress in doable steps, big and
small, local and global.
Participants at the meeting left with a clear sense of purpose both to see Canada rapidly
fulfill the promise of their Oceans Act and Oceans Action Plan and to participate in an
international network that would inspire and provide leadership in the way humans
live, work and enjoy the oceans. With three oceans, Canada has a unique and special
responsibility to take leadership in building global solutions.
Centre for Coastal Studies, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6 ◆ 604 291 4893 ◆ penikett@sfu.ca ◆