Background on the Inauguration of ONE OCEAN

In the fall of 2001, the Canada-Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NOPB) sponsored a series of meetings with industry representatives from the fishing and petroleum sectors to address the issue of establishing a liaison organization to enhance working relationships between the two industries. The meetings were held at the Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland (Marine Institute) and facilitated by campus officials. At the conclusion of the meetings, there was general consensus from both groups regarding the need for and format of an appropriate liaison model for Newfoundland and Labrador.

Each industry recognized the need for enhanced communication and information exchange as part of developing a cooperative working relationship between the fishing and petroleum sectors. It was determined that a liaison model would provide independent expert analysis and interpretation on identified subjects and provide a proactive approach to potential areas of conflict. Both industry sectors agreed to situate the liaison organization at the Marine Institute.

In May 2002, the inter-industry organization ONE OCEAN was launched to operate as a liaison organization for the fishing and petroleum sectors and provide a forum to enhance mutual knowledge and understanding between two important industries operating in a common marine environment.

ONE OCEAN Profile

ONE OCEAN is a liaison organization established by the fishing and petroleum industries of Newfoundland and Labrador. Under the direction of an industry board, ONE OCEAN will promote mutual understanding between these two vital industries and their common marine environment.

Goals - ONE OCEAN provides a neutral forum for both sectors to facilitate communication, information exchange and shared opportunities. Our mandate is to assist the fishing and petroleum industries in understanding each others operations and activities. This process is based on the initiatives of each industry to endorse cooperation, transparency, and a proactive approach to the exploitation of marine resources.

Benefits – The continued growth of the fishing and petroleum industries is critical to the economy of Newfoundland and Labrador. There is a need for a practical forum to discuss how these industries can co-exist in a sustainable manner. As the operational components of both sectors may overlap, it is important that each industry is cognizant of the working operations of the other, to work safely and efficiently together.

ONE OCEAN will endeavor to identify and/or address industry-specific issues for each sector as well as issues common to both. The organization will commission research studies and conduct literature reviews to maintain diligent responses to industry inquiries. ONE OCEAN will also ascertain potential problems and provide conflict resolution alternatives and independent expert analyses.

The structure of the ONE OCEAN Industry Board is conducive to equal representation of both the fishing and petroleum industries, consisting of knowledgeable and active stakeholders from each sector. This structure enhances the opportunity for information dissemination and progressive joint initiatives for two industries operating in one ocean.

Structure

One Ocean has three primary organizational elements: a joint Industry Board; an independent Chairperson; and an independent Secretariat. The Industry Board is comprised of equal representation for both sectors, with representation by knowledgeable and active stakeholders. The Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW) union represents the fishing industry, which includes fish harvesters and plant workers. Fishery Products International (FPI), and Grand Atlantic Seafoods represent processors. The Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation is also represented on the Board. The oil and gas industry operators include ExxonMobil, Husky-Energy, Norsk-Hydro, Petro-Canada, and their association; the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP). This structure enhances the opportunity for information dissemination and progressive joint initiatives for two industries operating in one ocean.

The Secretariat Office for ONE OCEAN is located at the Marine Institute. The Secretariat oversees the core activities of the Secretariat, with focus on providing independent research and analysis on industry specific issues, and relaying operational activity information to the fishing and petroleum sectors.

Independent Chairman:

DR. ARTHUR MAY was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland and attended Memorial and McGill Universities, earning Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Fisheries Biology and Marine Sciences. He worked as a fisheries biologist for some 15 years, during which he spent a good deal of time on research vessels in the North Atlantic from Newfoundland to Greenland.

Dr. May moved to Ottawa in the early 70's and worked there for 17 years. He headed the national research program in fisheries science, and then became Assistant Deputy Minister for Atlantic Fisheries, and Deputy Minister of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans from 1982 - 1985. From 1985 to 1990 he was President of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC). During this period he implemented the Networks of Centres of Excellence Program (NCE), involving Universities, Industry and Governments.

Dr. May has headed three very different public institutions; the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and Memorial University of Newfoundland (1990 - 1999).

Dr. May is an Officer of the Order of Canada, and holds Honorary degrees from the University of Ottawa, Brock University and Memorial. He is currently a Board member of the Canadian Museum of Nature, and the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation (which each year distributes 300 million dollars to Canadian students). He is Chairman of the Advisory Board for the $300 million Atlantic Innovation Fund (2001).

During his career, he has held many national and international appointments, including the first Chairman of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO), first Canadian Commissioner of the Canada/US Pacific Salmon Commission, and Canadian representative on the NATO Science Committee. He chaired the Selection Committee for the Canadian Model Forests Program, and has served on the Prime Minister’s National Advisory Board on Science and Technology, among many other appointments.

THE ONE OCEAN SECRETARIAT:

GORDON SLADE has been the Executive Director for ONE OCEAN since its inception in 2002. Mr. Slade’s diverse experience in public service in marine affairs has afforded him the opportunity to deal with a broad spectrum of ocean related activities. Mr. Slade served as Deputy Minister of Fisheries for Newfoundland and Labrador from 1974-1982, and then began his tenure in economic development with the Ministry of State for Economic and Regional Development as well as the Offshore Development Fund until 1987, culminating with his appointment as Vice President for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency until 1996. From 1997-2000, Mr. Slade held the position of Executive Director for the International Centre, Memorial University of Newfoundland. Before taking his position as Executive Director of ONE OCEAN, Mr. Slade was the Chief Executive Officer of the Cruise Ship Authority of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Mr. Slade is currently a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society; Board of Governors Member, Maritime Awards Society of Canada; Vice Chair, Newfoundland and Labrador Legacy Trust; Managing Director, Battle Harbour Historic Trust; Board Member, Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador and Member of the Newfoundland Historical Society.

MS. MAUREEN MURPHY, St. John’s, Newfoundland, became involved in marine affairs while living and teaching in France. During her ten years in Europe she was involved in various ocean related groups and organizations related to sustainable ocean uses and users. Murphy returned to Newfoundland in 1994, then relocated to Cape Breton, Nova Scotia in 1997, to complete her undergraduate degree of Bachelor of Arts in Community Studies; (BACS) Double Major in Political Science and Psychology. Murphy also received a Master of Marine Management graduate degree from Dalhousie University in 2000.

Murphy worked for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Oceans Division, in Dartmouth and St. John’s, as a consultant for Integrated Management Planning and Marine Protected Areas and as a consultant for a private sector oil and gas company before taking her position as a Research Analyst at One Ocean in 2003.

Mandate and Objectives

ONE OCEAN provides a neutral forum for both sectors to facilitate communication, information exchange and shared opportunities. Our mandate is to assist the fishing and petroleum industries in understanding each other’s operations and activities. This process is based on the initiatives of each industry to endorse cooperation, transparency, and a proactive approach to the exploitation of marine resources.

The continued growth of the fishing and petroleum industries is critical to the economy of Newfoundland and Labrador. There is a need for a practical forum to discuss how these industries can co-exist in a sustainable manner. As the operational components of both sectors may overlap, it is important that each industry is cognizant of the working operations of the other to work safely and efficiently together.

Mission

One Ocean shall be the medium for information exchange regarding industry operational activities between the fishing and petroleum industries in Newfoundland and Labrador, and as an information entity, will initiate research and industry specific activities to meet industry challenges, as well as promote cooperation, transparency and information dissemination between these industry sectors.