International Dialogues on Underwater Munitions

Program

Millions of dumped chemical and conventional munitions weapons exist in all of our seas, with major impacts on this precious resource at the local, regional and global scales. Toxic munitions have been releasing warfare agents every day that can change seawater temperature, contribute to ocean acidification, and create deadly algae blooms that will cause substantial changes in marine physics, chemistry and biology. These changes will affect the ocean in ways that we are only beginning to understand.

International Dialogue on Underwater Munitions (IDUM) was founded in Canada in 2004 and established in 2014 as a foundation in the Netherlands to see the removal of sea-dumped munitions from our oceans, seas, and waterways. IDUM is a dialogue wherein all stakeholders (governments, private sector, community organizations, and others) can discuss in an open and transparent process science, technology, and policy responses to underwater munitions.

IDUM has successfully hosted five International Dialogues on underwater munitions related issues. Our work is recognized by international organizations such as the United Nations and the Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. IDUM is also active in collaborative research in a wide range of fields (including oceanography, ecology, toxicology, technology, risk assessment history, and history).

Our work in Hawaii and Puerto Rico focuses on the removal of underwater munitions from coral reefs. We must protect these critically endangered ecosystems and the people who use them. These underwater munitions leach seven known carcinogens, some in very high concentrations. These poisons are now found everywhere throughout the ecosystem, including in fish, the base of the human food chain.

Together with your support IDUM is committed to halting and reversing the decline in the health and productivity of our ocean and its ecosystems and to protecting and restoring its resilience and ecological integrity. We recognize that the wellbeing of present and future generations is inextricably linked to the health and productivity of our ocean.

Our goals:

• Raise awareness of the human health and environmental impact of underwater munitions
• Develop a global database of underwater munition sites
• Develop a repository of information for underwater munitions
• Promote a binding international treaty addressing underwater munitions Eradicate “point-source emitters of pollution”