The World Ocean Council (WOC) - the Global Blue Economy Business Organization - is a global, cross-sectoral ocean industry leadership alliance committed to “Corporate Ocean Responsibility”, developed by and for the private sector, with a unique and multi-sectoral approach to address cross-cutting issues affecting ocean sustainable development, science and stewardship of the seas.
The WOC believes that responsible and coordinated Ocean Business Community efforts are essential to a healthy and productive global ocean and its sustainable use, development and stewardship by a responsible Ocean Business Community.
To this end, the WOC engages and brings together leaders from the various ocean industries, including shipping, oil and gas, fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, renewable energy (wind, wave, tidal), ports, dredging, cables, as well as the maritime legal, financial and insurance communities, and others to collaborate on responsible use of the seas.
On 14th May 2019, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Nippon Founation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project and the World Ocean Council, in recognition that both are working to support sustainable ocean development, science and stewardship.