19/07/2022 | As the final event of the AANChOR project and in recognition of a shared commitment to advancing marine research and innovation and building on the previous cross-Atlantic collaborations, officials from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Cabo Verde, the European Union, Morocco, South Africa, and the United States came together on July 14th in Washington, D.C. to sign the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance (AAORIA) Declaration. Fisheries biologist Dr. Werner Ekau and administrative Director Dr. Nicolas Dittert participated in the event as representatives of the ZMT.
The signatories agree on a common path forward for ocean science cooperation in the Atlantic Ocean, for the benefit of all Atlantic communities. Also, discussions amongst senior leaders, policy makers and scientific experts took place on the topics of ocean literacy, capacity building, pollution, ocean-climate nexus, ocean observing, marine ecosystems, sustainable ocean economy, aquaculture, and fisheries to inform future collaboration.
The All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance (AAORIA) is the result of ongoing collaborative ocean science efforts involving countries and organizations from along and across the Atlantic Ocean basin. It builds upon the Galway Statement on Atlantic Ocean Cooperation which was signed by the European Union, United States, and Canada in 2013; and the Belém Statement on Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Cooperation which was signed by the European Union, Brazil, and South Africa in 2017 as well as a number of other bilateral and multilateral agreements.
About the AANChOR project
The Atlantic Ocean is an invaluable resource shared by all Atlantic nations, and beyond. It requires effective cooperation in marine research to inform the sustainable management of human activities, and to ensure a healthy ocean for the communities that depend on it.
In the AANChOR project (All AtlaNtic Cooperation for Ocean Research and Innovation), various partners from European, South American, and African countries discuss and contribute to the implementation of concrete, long-term collaborative activities, reinforcing international cooperation between Europe and Tropical and South Atlantic countries and connecting the challenges and research needs of the North Atlantic Ocean.
The German Marine Research Consortium (KDM) is an official AANChOR partner. On behalf of KDM, ZMT manages key aspects of the project. ZMT is mandated to bring German marine science into the South Atlantic cooperation.
More information: https://allatlanticocean.org/
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