As Blue Economy efforts to achieve sustainable use of ocean and coastal resources are promoted around the world, attention is focusing on achieving "ocean equity" to ensure that the benefits from the ocean are widely and equitably shared among different stakeholders. The Ocean Policy Research Institute (OPRI) of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, together with the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) and the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS), hosted the "International Conference on Achieving Ocean Equity: Innovative, Fair, Inclusive and Sustainable Strategies and Blue Impact Investments" in Wollongong, Australia, from February 27 to March 1, 2023. The conference consisted of research presentations and policy dialogues, bringing together more than 55 participants from academia, governments, and NPOs from 18 countries around Asia and the Pacific.

The conference began with the indigenous chant, “Welcome to the Country,” praising the bounties of mother earth, by Dr. Jodi Edwards, Vice Chancellor, Indigenous Research Fellow, School of Arts, RMIT University. In remarks by Dr. Patricia Davidson, Vice Chancellor & President, University of Wollongong, she emphasized the importance of the conference and expressed her hopes for fruitful discussion and network building on these vital issues. Dr. Tetsushi Sonobe, Dean & CEO of ADBI stressed the importance of supporting developing countries in Asia and the Pacific in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (5, 10, 13, and 14) as well as implementing ADB’s Action Plan for Healthy Oceans and Sustainable Blue Economies. Dr. Hide Sakaguchi, President of OPRI, along with indicating the urgent need to achieve sustainable use of marine resources, called for further cooperation between Japan and Australia in the Pacific region, and expressed his expectations for the achievement of ocean equity to eliminate disparities in society as a means of promoting the blue economy.

The conference consisted of five themes: "Sustainable Strategies for Achieving Ocean Equity and Justice", "Cultural Relationships with Ocean Spaces: Panel and Group Exchange and Policy Discussion", "Case Studies from Local to Regional Perspective", "Blue Impact Investment and Assessment", and "Policy Dialogue on Achieving Ocean Equity". In each session, researchers and Ph.D. candidates presented their latest research outcomes and government officials gave reports on recent policy initiatives. Dr. Yoshitaka Ota, Professor of Practice, School of Marine and Environmental Affairs; Director, Nippon Foundation Ocean Nexus Center at Earth Lab, University of Washington delivered a keynote speech on “Sustainable Strategies for Achieving Ocean Equity and Justice," explaining the definition of the ocean equity principle and its gaps, and calling for greater endeavors to create a plausible framework toward equitable ocean policies to reduce disparities. Dr. Transform Aqorao, Vice Chancellor, Solomon Islands National University addressed the issue of Ocean Equity from the perspective of Pacific Island countries.

Professor Prani Sastiono of the University of Indonesia presented a case study on the socio-economic impact of a Digital Platform on Small Scale Fisheries in the East Kalimantan: ARUNA. Katharine Thoday, ADB Principal Environment Specialist, Environment Thematic Group, Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department, presented on the ADB Blue Pacific Finance Hub, an initiative of the Asian Development Bank that aims to increase investment to support the creation of resilient blue economies. Michael C. Huang, OPRI Senior Research Fellow served as intervener in a policy dialogue among officials from the Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Cook Islands, and Australia. The government representatives emphasized the importance of not only focusing on the vulnerabilities, limitations, and challenges faced by marginalized groups such as small island states, indigenous communities, women, and youth, but also of implementing initiatives that can leverage the strengths of these groups.

In addition to the indoor academic interchange, participants visited Booderee National Park and Jervis Bay Maritime Museum as an excursion. The area of Booderee National Park consists of forest and mangroves with original plants, and is managed by an aboriginal community. The conductor of Gadhungal Murring introduced the customs and rituals of indigenous groups and guided all participants in a forest walk and basket weaving, sharing their ecological knowledge and traditions of coexistence and harmony with nature.
 
During the conference, stakeholders discussed the need for a wide range of initiatives to address various issues related to the ocean, such as fisheries, energy, development, and marine debris. These initiatives will require the collaboration of experts from different academic and cultural backgrounds. The synergy generated through this interdisciplinary collaboration is expected to bring innovative solutions to the challenges facing the ocean and its resources. The conference discussions were aimed at producing a monograph that will contribute to the emerging field of ocean equity. The feedback collected during the conference will be used to strengthen the content of the manuscript. The monograph is expected to be a valuable resource for policymakers, academics, and stakeholders working to promote ocean equity.