Stephenson Ocean Security Project

The Stephenson Ocean Security Project (SOS) is focused on the links between ocean health and global security

The Project will highlight how marine resource disputes drive instability in key regions of the globe and the ways that climate change is exacerbating this challenge through degraded ecosystems and the opening of new areas to potential exploitation.

The SOS Project is committed to promoting solutions that support sustainable development, coalition building, and the need for American leadership.

All Stephenson Ocean Security Project Content

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Event Summary: Ocean Security and Human Rights Forum

The Center for Strategic and International Studies Stephenson Ocean Security Project and Human Rights Initiative held the Ocean Security and Human Rights Forum with the US Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing & Labor Rights Coalition on Thursday, June 5, 2025.

Blog Post by Lily Kennedy, Whitley Saumweber, Andrew Friedman, Steve Brock, Kelly Kryc, Martina Vandenberg, Nathan Rickard, Allison Gill, and Marla (Max) Valentine — June 17, 2025

Whitley Saumweber: Finding Nemo’s Future: Conflicts over Ocean Resources

The issue of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing is central to questions of national wealth, sovereignty, and market stability in the U.S. and our global partners. Adequate solutions to the escalating IUU problem will require interagency and international cooperation on this bipartisan topic.

Transcript by Whitley Saumweber — June 12, 2025

Ocean Security and Human Rights Forum

Join to learn about the changing nature of US ocean policy between the Trump and Biden Administrations and how these changes will affect regional security relationships and our ability to secure domestic supply chains to ensure fair markets and support labor rights at home and abroad.

Event — June 5, 2025

Ocean Security and Human Rights Forum

The CSIS Stephenson Ocean Security Project and Human Rights Initiative convened a group of experts for moderated discussions on seafood, security, trade, and human rights.

Transcript — June 5, 2025

Event Summary: Seafood Alliance for Legality and Traceability Forum

The Center for Strategic and International Studies Stephenson Ocean Security Project and Human Rights Initiative held the Seafood Alliance for Legality and Traceability Forum with FishWise on Friday, September 15, 2023.

Blog Post by Mariana Aziz, Jenny Barker, Alexa Cole, Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA), Jennifer Kane, Sara Lewis, Tony Long, Farid Maruf, Jovice Mkuchu, Kate O'Rourke, Leo Pradela, Whitley Saumweber, Ian Urbina, and Laura Van Voorhees — September 27, 2023

Seafood Alliance for Legality and Traceability Forum- Taking Stock and Next Steps

The Stephenson Ocean Security Project and the Human Rights Initiative will host an impact event to bring together sectoral experts, government representatives, industry leaders, and civil society stakeholders to reflect on the progress made and to explore the challenges and opportunities ahead as we move towards a more sustainable and traceable seafood industry.

Event — September 15, 2023

Reeling In Abuse

IUU fishing creates a market for seafood harvested or processed using forced labor. By leveraging existing transparency requirements and enhancing analysis and enforcement, the U.S. government can deter companies from utilizing forced labor in their seafood supply chains.

Report by ​Marti Flacks, Jacqueline Lewis, and David McKean — February 15, 2022

Ocean Security Forum 2021

The Stephenson Ocean Security Project highlights the ways that global security challenges arise from marine resource competition and works towards solutions that support sustainable development, coalition building, and the need for American leadership.

Event — December 16, 2021