The ocean will be on the global agenda at the end of October, with the fifth meeting of the Our Ocean Conference. Marine pollution will once again be a key topic of discussion during this year’s conference edition hosted in Bali on 29 and 30 October 2018 by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia.

Project AWARE will be there among world’s leaders, entrepreneurs, scientists, young leaders, and civil society to:

• Share our unique underwater perspective;

• Celebrate #OneMillionLess - a milestone reached in 2018, thanks to an army of dive volunteers, by Project AWARE’s flagship citizen science program: Dive Against Debris®;

• and launch #NextMillion2020 with a commitment to local actions for global impact. Our goal: Add our next million pieces of debris to the global Dive Against Debris dataset by the end of 2020 to mobilize local communities and continue to build evidence of the scale of the global marine debris crisis.

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Our Ocean Conference 2018 will convene Heads of States, Ministers, and champions from various backgrounds to:

• Discuss significant progress on past ocean commitments;

• Inspire new commitments made for the continuation of more concerted and integrated actions for protecting the ocean.

Project AWARE will represent the voice of a global community of debris activists and work with partners who share our vision for a return to a clean and healthy ocean. Ahead of the conference, we’ll join our Global Ghost Gear Initiative partners to continue to make progress towards achieving the goals of our joint voluntary commitment made in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Together with Trash Free Seas partners, we continue to work tirelessly to reverse the tide of marine debris - one of the most persistent and pervasive forms of ocean pollution. But our most important partner - is YOU.

Divers who remove and report rubbish are part of a global movement to protect the ocean and the creatures who live there. Without evidence, Project AWARE along with scientists and conservationists can’t advocate for change. Your Dive Against Debris data help fill gaps in our understanding of the impact marine debris has on underwater environments. Data matters.

Our Ocean, Our Legacy is the theme of this year's Our Ocean Conference. It reflects choices and actions to maintain the sustainability of our ocean’ resources and to preserve our ocean's health, as a heritage presented for our children and grandchildren. Project AWARE is committed to working towards solutions for a debris-free ocean for us today and future generations.

The countdown to the #NextMillion2020 kicks off with Our Ocean - Stay tuned for ways to get involved and be part of the next million, fins on and fins off.