Part I Marine Living Resources and Marine Biodiversity, 2 The Work of the UNESCO-IOC in Respect of Global Ocean Governance

This chapter focuses on the work of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), a separate unit of UNESCO, in respect to global ocean governance. The functions of IOC are part of the system of ocean governance, based on 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Its purpose is to promote international cooperation and to coordinate programmes in research, services and capacity building, in order to learn more about the nature and resources of the ocean and coastal areas and to apply that knowledge for the improvement of management, sustainable development, the protection of the marine environment, and the decision-making processes of its Member States. The chapter first provides an overview of IOC’s purpose and organisational structure, its collaboration with international organizations with regard to ocean governance, and its ocean governance-related activities before discussing the ways in which it contributes to capacity building and enhancing ocean governance.