APPG for the Ocean holds roundtable to launch new ‘Future of Ocean Technology ’inquiry report

To mark the release of the APPG for the Ocean’s latest inquiry report The Ocean: Inquiry into the Future of Ocean Technology, the APPG held a roundtable in Parliament this week, bringing together parliamentarians and stakeholders to discuss the key findings of the report.

This was an informative and insightful discussion on the recommendations of the report, the innovative and modern approaches to sustainable ocean technology and how government and industry can work collaboratively to ensure that the UK ocean technology sector can continue to flourish.

The roundtable, chaired by the Chair of the APPG, Sally-Ann Hart MP, was a fantastic opportunity to bring together parliamentarians, industry and academics, and discuss what role government can play in ensuring that the potential of ocean technology and the role it plays in climate change mitigation, is fully realised. The APPG for the Ocean was pleased to welcome parliamentarians and representatives from the National Oceanography Centre, Blue Marine Foundation, UK Marine Energy Council, British Antarctic Survey, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Planetary Technologies and the Society of Maritime Industries to this event.

Ocean technology is crucial to shaping the future of the ocean and the UK, as an island nation with significant research centres and capabilities, is well-placed to be a global scientific leader in this space. Over the past decade, ocean technology has rapidly advanced, with significant developments in big data, autonomy, renewables, carbon capture and storage, and blue carbon. Such technologies are leading the transformation in the way in which we observe, measure and predict how the ocean behaves. They are equipping scientists with the necessary tools and capabilities to enhance our scientific understanding of the ocean. Despite such progress, the inquiry identifies a number of significant barriers currently preventing the full potential and benefits of ocean technology from being realised.

The inquiry makes 10 recommendations to Government and is calling on the UK government to establish a clear and comprehensive strategy and framework to foster research, development and innovation.

Only through fostering innovation and the development of safe and efficient ocean technologies, can we understand the complexities of the ocean, and, in turn, mitigate and protect against the harmful effects of climate change.

Many thanks to all who attended and provided evidence to this inquiry. The APPG looks forward to presenting our findings and recommendations to government.

You can read the Future of Ocean Technology Inquiry Report in full below: