Rear Adm. Kelly Aeschbach, director of National Maritime Intelligence-Integration Office in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, participated in the sixth “Our Ocean Conference” in Oslo, Norway from Oct. 23 to 24, 2019 as part of the U.S. State Department delegation.

Conference attendees from global government, commercial, scientific and academic, environment and conservation sector stakeholders put their knowledge, technology, and finances into action to meet the challenges facing the ocean.

The conference’s intent was to raise visibility on six areas of action that include: Maritime Security, Marine Protected Areas and Other Area-Based Management Measures, Climate Change, Sustainable Fisheries, Marine Pollution, and Sustainable Blue Economy on an international diplomacy stage. These action areas intersect with NMIO’s mission to integrate data for a whole-of-government information advantage.

The U.S. delegation, which included NMIO, submitted the following commitment to increase data and information sharing and increase maritime domain awareness: “The United States announced a new partnership between Global Fishing Watch and the Marine Conservation and Maritime Security Coalition that will support 3 to 5 case studies over the next 3 years to reduce conflicts over maritime resources and increase regional stability at sea by providing enhanced analytical power and increased data sharing with relevant maritime authorities.”

Additionally, Aeschbach, who also serves as the commander of the Office of Naval Intelligence in Suitland, MD, participated as a panelist on the topic “The Need for Transparency in Global Fisheries Governance.” Co-panelists included the Ambassador of Chile to Norway and Iceland (His Excellency Ambassador Waldemar Coutts), the Head of the Task Force for IUU Fishing, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Republic of Indonesia (Mas Achmad Santosa), and the Executive Director of a not-for-profit organization that provides fisheries intelligence and analysis, Trygg Mat Tracking (Mr. Duncan Copeland).