The 2002 conference highlighted research taking place across Canada on the interactions between people and oceans, and on the management of human activities at sea and along our coasts.

Through policy roundtables, research paper and poster sessions, and plenary discussions, participants created linkages, integrated lessons learned, shared knowledge and value-added research that contributes towards management of healthier coastal and ocean environments. An important conference aim was to develop discussions on a long-term national social science research agenda and how it interfaces with other disciplines and management agendas.