The former Chairman of Tata Group, Ratan Tata has joined other international eminent persons in the launch of the Global Ocean Commission (GOC).

Mr. Tata joined others including former Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin and WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy to launch the international body aimed at restoring the health and productivity to the oceans. GOC said in a statement that its main aim is to restore the health of the oceans and restore its full health and productivity. It said that the large parts of the world's oceans are affected due to various factors like overfishing, damage to important habitat, climate change and ocean acidification.

"During 2013-14, the Commission will analyse key threats to international waters known as the `high seas', which make up almost half of the Earth's surface but are not owned by any one country," the statement read.

The GOC will integrate known personalities from different fields from around the world with aim to help preserve the health of the oceans. It will include political figures, including former Heads of State, Foreign Ministers and Finance Ministers as well as business leaders and development specialists.

The commission is planning to publish its report in 2014, just before the UN General Assembly begins a discussion on the matter. The commission is chaired by former Costa Rican President Jose Maria Figueres, South African Cabinet Minister Trevor Manuel and former UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband MP.