International Ocean Institute: About the IOI

Welcome to the International Ocean Institute

Dr Awni Behnam, President of IOI

Welcome to the International Ocean Institute

The International Ocean Institute was founded in 1972 by Professor Elisabeth Mann Borgese as a knowledge-based non-governmental, non-profit international organisation devoted to the sustainable development of the oceans. It operates through the activities of its Headquarters residing in Malta and Operational Centres located in 25 countries around the world.

Its establishment was a milestone in the struggle to enhance, promote and advocate the peaceful and sustainable uses of ocean space and coasts as well as the management and conservation of the oceans so that future generations can share in their benefits. Pacem in Maribus is the Institute's motto.

As a non-governmental body with consultative status at the United Nations, the International Ocean Institute works to uphold and expand the principles enshrined in the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea – namely that the seabed and the oceans are the common heritage of humankind, for the benefit of humankind as a whole, with particular consideration of the poor.

Today I invite you to share with us an exciting and challenging venture in the ongoing struggle to improve the health of the oceans and their resources and thus promote peace and development worldwide. There are many ways you can become involved with us; please take the time to visit our website, learn and find out more about the International Ocean Institute.

Dr. Awni Behnam, President of IOI.
awni.behnam@ioihq.org.mt

Mission of the IOI

The Mission of the International Ocean Institute is two fold:

To ensure the sustainability of the Ocean as “the source of life”, and to uphold and expand the principle of the common heritage as enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
To promote the concept of Pacem in Maribus and its management and conservation for the benefit of future generations.

IOI statutes and rules of procedure

IOI at a glance

In its early days, the IOI has provided major inputs to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea
IOI's strength lies in its training programs for coastal communities. Through such programs, the IOI Network promote sustainable use of ocean space and resources through awareness creation, education, information dissemination, research and community initiatives.
IOI has thousands of alumni of its training programmes worldwide, many of whom are in influential, decision-making positions in their home countries or the UN system.
IOI has held 31 Pacem in Maribus Conferences since the first one in 1970 held in Malta.
IOI Operational Centres can be found in the following countries:Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Egypt, Fiji, Germany, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kenya, Malta, Nigeria, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand, Ukraine, and United States of America.
IOI benefits from arrangements with 26 host institutions in these countries.The latter enjoy the benefits of working through the global IOI Network on ocean affairs.
IOI produces research and policy-related publications dealing with ocean governance and ocean science.
Through the organization of a series of Leadership Seminars, IOI identifies the implications of sustainable development with a focus on regional seas.
The IOI is developing a system-wide program for the coordination, delivery, quality assurance and development of education programs in the field of ocean research.
Global partnerships in education, training and capacity building program is IOI OceanLearn and will be coordinating IOI's thematic training internationally.
IOI assists the IOI network through its Women, Youth and the Sea Program to dedicate efforts to enhance the capacity building and participation of women and youth from coastal communities in developing countries.
For over 20 years, IOI and Dalhousie University Law School has published the Ocean Yearbook, containing leading edge articles, reports and reference materials devoted to the issues and concerns affecting the world's oceans.

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