Partners

Census of Marine Life

The Census of Marine Life is a 10-year international effort undertaken in to assess the diversity (how many different kinds), distribution (where they live), and abundance (how many) of marine life—a task never before attempted on this scale. The Census stimulated the discipline of marine science by tackling these issues globally, and engaging some 2,700 scientists from around the globe, who participated in 540 expeditions and countless hours of land-based research. The scientific results were reported on October 4, 2010 at the Royal Institution in London.
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UN Atlas of the Oceans

Traditionally, an atlas was a bound collection of maps, charts, plates and tables illustrating a subject. The UN Atlas of the Oceans is an on-line, encyclopedic survey of the best ocean information available. The project is a partnership of six UN Agencies and other public and private partners, including the World Ocean Observatory. The Atlas is the most comprehensive on-line resource for inquiry about the full spectrum of ocean issues; it is an essential tool for students, teachers, and others interested in detailed information about ocean systems and services.
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Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands

The Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands was first mobilized in 2001 to help the world’s governments highlight issues related to oceans, coasts, and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) on the agenda of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), and was later formalized at the WSSD in Johannesburg.

Since 2001, the Global Forum has involved ocean experts representing all sectors from 105 countries to advance the global oceans agenda by: 1) promoting the implementation of inter-national agreements related to oceans, coasts, and SIDS, especially the goals emanating from the 2002 WSSD; 2) analyzing new emerging issues such as improving the governance regime for ocean areas beyond national jurisdiction and addressing the impacts of climate change; and 3) promoting international consensus-building on unresolved ocean issues.

The Global Oceans Conferences provide the major opportunity for all sectors of the global oceans community-- governments, international agencies, nongovernmental organizations, indus- try, and scientific groups-- to address the major policy issues affecting the oceans at global, regional, and national levels and to make progress in advancing the global oceans agenda.

The Global Forum has organized four Global Conferences (in 2001, 2003, and 2006 at UNESCO in Paris and in 2008 in Hanoi, Vietnam); organized the Ocean Policy Summit in Lisbon in 2005 documenting experiences with integrated oceans governance in countries and regions around the world; prepared a number of “report cards” on the implementation of the WSSD ocean targets and of the 1994 Barbados Programme of Action for SIDS; reports on ocean issues in island states; reports on capacity development needs on ocean and coastal management in different world regions; and provided a series of Internet information services, including periodic newsletters.

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Ocean Classroom Foundation

Ocean Classroom Foundation is an educational organization that provides programs of sea education and adventure for the youth of America aboard the schooners Westward, Spirit of Massachusetts and Harvey Gamage. Ocean Classroom Foundation is a leader in experiential education, with award-winning programs sailing from the Canadian Maritimes to the Caribbean Sea. Programs vary from one-day, to one-week, to semester long adventures for middle school, high school and college students; custom programs for schools, youth and community organizations and continuing education for American history teachers.
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World Ocean Network

The World Ocean Network is an association of aquariums, science centers, environmental institutions, and non-governmental organizations in Europe, North and South America, Africa, and the East with a common mission to advance public understanding the oceans. WON is the Education and Outreach Program for the Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands. 

WON creates and promotes a variety of awareness programs for the oceans to include conferences, shared programs, information packages and youth forums, an ocean leadership institute, a sustainable fish campaign, a passport for Citizens of the Oceans, and the promotion of WORLD OCEAN DAY on June 8 each year, recognized by the United Nations as a date on which organizations and individuals around the world can express their support of the sustainable ocean through public events, beach clean-ups, festivals of the sea, and other local efforts to galvanize and focus ocean interests.
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Compass Light Productions

Compass Light produces non-fiction narrative science and history content revealing the wonder of the natural world, with particular emphasis on marine environments.  Programs often focus on people in challenging and value-forming situations and grew from the work of David Conover, who started the company almost twenty years ago.

Compass Light produces high-definition content for broadcast networks, internet distribution, educational institutions and corporate clients.  The first high-definition work for Discovery Channel Quest included planning for the first live HD downlink from the International Space Station and went on to include "Quest for Captain Kidd" and "Cracking the Ocean Code". Compass Light has also produced programming for Animal Planet, and National Geographic Channel.

Compass Light developed a new format of television called "experiential TV" which features natural sound with no narration. Their flagship series SUNRISE EARTH is broadcast daily to over 30 million people worldwide on Discovery HD Theater. This series makes the claim to be the only long-running broadcast series in which not a single word is spoken.  Further examples of Experiential TV can be found through the distribution company BLUE MARVEL.

Compass Light is the production partner of the World Ocean Observatory.