International marine environment conference set for Orkney

Orkney Islands Council will play host to an international marine environmental conference later this week.

The 25th KIMO International Conference and AGM will be held in Kirkwall on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

KIMO or Kommunenes Internasjonale Miljøorganisasjon, translates as Local Authorities International Environmental Organisation. Orkney Islands Council’s vice-convener, Jim Foubister, is the current KIMO UK chairman.

For two decades KIMO has worked to protect, preserve and enhance northern Europe’s marine environment. The organisation, which represents coastal communities on marine pollution issues, started life with a membership of just four authorities but now represents over 150 communities in countries including the United Kingdom, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Faeroe Islands, The Netherlands, The Republic of Ireland and the Isle of Man representing over 6 million people.

This year’s conference will focus on the marine environment as a source of secure energy and the challenges of ship to ship transfers, with 51 delegates scheduled to attend.

Attendees at the conference will hear presentations on marine energy and the marine environment from EMEC’s Neil Kermode, hydrogen and community benefit from Community Energy Scotland and the ballast water regime from the Council’s Marine Services. They will also get the opportunity to tour various sites in Orkney such as Billia Croo and the Heart of Neolithic Orkney.

Councillor Foubister said: “We are honoured to be hosting the KIMO International Conference. KIMO does a lot for the conservation of the marine environment which is very important to Orkney.

“One of KIMO’s current projects is ‘Fishing for Litter’ which is associated to land based campaigns such as ‘Bag the Bruck’ and ‘Pick up Three Pieces’ campaigns. The effect of plastics in the marine environment is one of increasing concern year after year, and this campaign works toward decreasing the amount of plastics and waste in the water. It’s a very important cause and I’m proud that Orkney is involved.”

Next year’s meeting takes place in Noordwijk in The Netherlands.