About the Network

The ocean network is a platform of dialogue, innovation, technology sharing and climate resilience. Our founders include four members from the coastal, island and maritime professional spaces of public policy, gender rights, public international maritime law and justice movements.

 

The network's core objective is collective action between sectors as climate change led sea-level rise and hazards is projected to disproportionately impact the ocean, coastal and island sectors, livelihoods and economy.

 

O.C.E.A.N or the Ocean Network was previously known as C.A.M.P.A.N (Coastal and Maritime Policy Advocacy Network) which was conceptualised during the first lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The first lockdown left several groups stranded at sea and without any assistance and witnessed grave requirements of collective policy lobbying efforts.

 

Fishworkers struggled to reach their hometown in Central and North India from harbours in West, South and East India. Tons of catch worth crores were discarded. Other maritime sectors like the shipping industry had crew stranded in the middle of the sea without crucial supplies like fresh water and food. Marine conservation and scientific researchers were stranded on field with no definite accommodation and supplies in India. Several small scale fishers sold their sole assets like boats and became labourers to sustain.

 

Violence, crime and borderline starvation were rife. As we moved ahead, the value of the network was highlighted in other aspects like blanket/mono ocean policies not equitable to all ocean economy sectors, representation of under-represented, at-risk groups and gender equity. We work towards resilience, equity and representation of the sectors that require support, policy-lobbying, advocacy, representation, sustainable solutions and innovations.