Press Release

Marseille, October 24

BIOMARINE : THE DAVOS OF MARITIME EVENTS

Marseille, 24 October-- João Mira Gomes, State Secretary for Defense and Maritime Affairs of Portugal, gave a ringing endorsement of the BioMarine conference today, saying BioMarine is a key initiative that could be “a kind of Davos meeting of the sea” which could play an “instrumental role in the development of an integrated maritime policy” Also today at BioMarine, Joe Borg, European Union Commissioner Responsible for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs said, “The Integrated Maritime Strategy has been a genuine bottom-up approach...We used to limit ourselves to sectoral and sometimes contradictory martime policies... This conference shows we have come a long way." Recommendations from BioMarine are attached to this document.

BioMarine, the world ocean summit, closed today in Marseille with the plenary on Europe ‘s Integrated Maritime Policy with Joe Borg ; Xavier de la Gorce, French Secretary General for the Seas ; Joao Mira Gomes; Elisabeth Walaas, State Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Norway ; and Anna Wypych-Namiotko, Vice Minister of Infrastructure of Poland.

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Toulon, October 20

Openning Speech of Pierre Erwes, President and Foundr of BioMarine (download here)

All BioMarine sessions summarieshere

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"BioMarine and Comex are organizing special sub-marine VIP diving sessions Thursday 23 October and Friday 24 October in Marseille’s port .

These events will take place onboard of the Remora, a submarine carrying up to two people on underwater expeditions to depths of up to 610 meters for 10 hours, in the comfort and safety of an air-conditioned cabin at atmospheric pressure.

Media and journalists are kindly invited to participate to this special event.

Special participants Thursday 23 October:

• Maud Fontenoy, French woman sailor, Vice chairman of Conservatory for the Littoral, Ambassador for BioMarine

• Tony Haymet, Director of Scripps Institution of Oceanography, USA

Special participants Friday 24 October:

• Joe Borg, European Commissioner Responsible for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, EU
• Joao Mira Gomes, State Secretary of Portugal for Defence and Maritime Affairs, Portugal”

For more information and media participation, please contact: alexandra.gueorguieva@biomarine.org

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16 September, Marseille, France

Photos from BioMarine Press Conference

Local Governement representatives:

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29 August, Lyon, France

THE MEDITERRANEAN TO HOST THE FIRST WORLD CONFERENCE ON THE OCEAN:

" What is the last remaining unexplored frontier here on earth? The ocean.

For the first time, an international gathering of policy makers, business leaders, scientists and experts will address the issues and opportunities presented by the oceans. The Mediterranean cities of Marseille and Toulon will host BioMarine, the Maritime Initiative of the French Presidency of the European Union, 20-24 October. In partnership with Scripps Institution of Oceanography (USA), and with the full support of the European Commission and the French Government, BioMarine aims to cover all aspects of our interaction with the seas.

José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, is expected to attend.
Present at the opening of BioMarine will be Karen Roth, Parliamentary State Secretary of Germany; Koji Omi, former Finance Minister, Japan, leading a large Japanese delegation and Xavier de la Gorce, Secretary General of Maritime Affairs of France. ..."

Download the entire Press Release English Version

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10 July, Lyon, France

Scripps Institution of Oceanography partners with BioMarine to put the world spotlight on the oceans

Lyon, 10 July— BioMarine, the official maritime event of the French Presidency of the European Union, will be held 20-24 October in Toulon and Marseille, France. The Scripps Institution is partner for this first edition of BioMarine.

According to Tony Haymet, director of Scripps Institution of Oceanography, at the University of California, San Diego, «BioMarine will put the world spotlight on the oceans. World-class scientists with expertise on climate change and the oceans are participating in this European marine forum to focus attention on local impacts and global consequences. The health of the entire planet is at stake and by focusing on issues relevant to ocean pollution, maritime policy, coastal use, and global warming; we will highlight the importance-- and the value--of the oceans for all inhabitants on Earth." ...

Download the entire Press Release ENGLISH VERSION

Download the entire Press Release ARABIC VERSION

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12 June, Lyon, France

BIOMARINE, THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME INITIATIVE:FOCUS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN

Lyon, 12 June— The first BioMarine Forum will take place 20 - 24 October 2008 in Toulon and Marseille. This international initiative brings together more than 2000 European and international leaders from science, politics and industry to debate « A European maritime vision in the world ».

There will be a specific focus on the Mediterranean during the five-day meeting, first, in the context of maritime geopolitical issues and again in the discussion of problematics of maritime development, with a regard to sustainable development of the Mediterranean.....

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30 May, Lyon, France

FRANCE TO HOST THE WORLD MARINE AND MARITIME FORUM : BIOMARINE 2008

BioMarine 2008 will be the major maritime event of the French Presidency of the European Union, “The European maritime initiative in the world.”

“The 21st century will be a maritime one. A global event such as BioMarine encompassing the entire maritime community represents an exceptional opportunity to highlight the importance and the value of the ocean for a sustainable future” according to Xavier de la Gorce, French Secrétaire Général de la Mer. Toulon and Marseille will host the event from 20-24 October 2008.

Specific themes of BioMarine 2008 include Maritime Geopolitics, including Mediterranean; thawing oceans, law and the Arctic; security, and pollution; sustainable development in the Mediterranean. We will discuss climate change and future scenarios; the hunt for marine energies and alternatives to oil and ocean exploration..."

Download the entire press release...

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21 May, Paris,France

BIOMARINE PRESS LUNCH, 21 MAY 2008, AT CERCLE DE LA MER, PARIS

This luncheon marked the first presentation to the press of BioMarine 2008, and was hosted by Pierre Erwes, President and Founder of BioMarine, with special guest Xavier de la Gorce, Secrétaire Général de la Mer, France. Journalists lunched with leaders from some of our important industry and organizational partners: IFREMER, Thales, DCNS, EADS, Louis Dreyfus Armateurs, and Admiral Jean-Marie Van Huffel, adviser to the Secretary-General for the Sea of France’s EU presidency.

Some pictures from the event:

Find all pictures here

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19-20 May, Bruxelles, Belgium

EUROPEAN MARITIME DAY: COMMISSIONER JOE BORG's SPEECH,MENTIONING THE BIOMARINE INITIATIVE

"The European Maritime Day is celebrated on 20 May each year. This year's events included a stakeholder conference in Brussels 19-20 May, which focused on the regional approach to the implementation of Maritime Policy, and dialogue with stakeholders. The European Maritime Day was the occasion to highlight the crucial role played by the Oceans and Seas and contributed to the better visibility of the maritime sectors and more recognition of the importance they play in everyday life."

( http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/maritime-day-2008_en.html )

BioMarine on the European Commission Maritime Affairs web site

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STATE SECRETARY OF FRANCE ON EUROPEAN AFFAIRS JEAN-PIERRE JOUYET'S SPEECH

During the stakeholder conference,Commissioner Joe Borg, State Secretary of France on European Affairs Jean-Pierre Jouyet and State Secretary of Portugal for Defense and Maritime Affairs João Mira Gomes, expressed their support to the BioMarine initiative .

Find out here the entire speech of Mr Jouyet