Dhaka: Over six billion Euros were committed by public and private actors to better manage oceans at European Union-hosted conference in Malta.

The European Commission has announced over €550 million of EU-funded initiatives to tackle global ocean challenges, at the 'Our Ocean Conference 2017'.

The commitments announced in Malta made by the Commission and by other public and private actors from 112 countries around the world reached over €6 billion, said the EU on Sunday.

Secretary, Maritime Affairs Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rear Admiral (retd) Md Khurshed Alam represented the government of Bangladesh in this two-day conference and reaffirmed the voluntary commitments made in the UN Ocean Conference in Jun 2017.

On the sidelines, he also met the Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the European Union, Minister of Fisheries of Iceland, Minister of Agriculture and fisheries of Cambodia, said the Foreign Ministry here.

The 'Our Ocean Conference 2017' was held in Malta October 5 and 6 co-hosted by High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini and Karmenu Vella, Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.

The resources will be invested in strengthening the fight against marine pollution and enlarging protected areas, reinforcing security of the oceans, fostering blue economy initiatives and sustainable fisheries and intensifying the EU efforts against climate change in line with the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals under Agenda 2030.

The participants also announced the creation of new Marine Protected Areas spanning more than 2.5 million km, or more than half the size of the entire European Union.

First Vice-President Frans Timmermans said the European Commission has demonstrated with concrete pledges its strong commitment to the sustainability, security and prosperity of our oceans.

"The sea is a global common. It's Our Ocean because it belongs to humanity, to each and every human being. We all have a responsibility to preserve what's common - to preserve it as a treasure and avoid that it turns into a threat," said High Representative/Vice-President FedericaMogherini.

Commissioner Karmenu Vella said their policies on land like their commitment to the circular economy and reduced plastic waste; and at sea, on marine pollution, on protected areas, and on harnessing the ocean's clean energy, clearly demonstrate this. "The European Union is earning respect and inspiring action across the planet."

Commissioner Neven Mimica said, "Coastal areas more protected. We're acting on the climate challenge. For many of our developing country partners, sustainable ocean governance is a question of survival. The road ahead is still long, but we're moving in the right direction."

Commitments will be tracked and reported at the next Our Ocean Conference in Indonesia in 2018.

Previous conferences, hosted by the governments of the United States (2014, 2016) and Chile (2015), have seen a wide range of commitments and billions of Euros pledged.

The Our Ocean 2017 Conference addressed the themes of marine protected areas, sustainable fisheries, marine pollution, and climate change.

This year, the European Commission introduced the themes of blue economy and maritime security.

With a focus on high-level engagement, partnership and action, the EU continues to drive other international efforts, such as delivery on the Sustainable Development Goals under Agenda 2030.

The conference also complements the EU's international ocean governance initiative, which set out an agenda for the future of the oceans around the world, proposing 50 concrete actions.