Africa-Press – Angola. The Angolan delegation, led by the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, presented, Thursday (30), in Lisbon, the National Strategy for the Sea, which aims to promote the increase in social well-being, employment, national wealth, thus enhancing the Blue Economy, within a framework of sustainable development.
The Secretary of State for Fisheries, Esperança da Costa, who explained during the presentation of the strategy at the Angola Stand, said that the document is supported by a scientific and technological basis, and will affirm “the country as a maritime reference in the geostrategic framework”.
“The National Strategy for the Sea takes an integrated holistic view of the major options and objectives of national policies in the medium and long term, on the horizon of the 2021-2030 decade”, he said. The Secretary of State for Fisheries stressed that the document defines objectives and goals to be embodied in an action plan in line with the strategic actions of the State. “The Strategy is a bet on the promotion and diversification of the maritime economy, with an integrated vision”, he stressed.
He stressed that the world recognizes, today, the growing vital importance of the oceans for living beings, for the survival of humanity. For this reason, he highlighted, States and decision-makers have gained awareness and value of the economic potential of the oceans, as well as their vulnerability to human action. Esperança da Costa added that “the oceans are recognized as providers of food for about 3 million people, climate regulators, a source of oxygen, of trade, but despite this, they still face great threats”.
The presentation of the Angola strategy took place within the scope of the II United Nations Conference on the Oceans, which started on the 27th of July, in Lisbon, Portugal. The event, which ends today, foresees the adoption of a declaration of commitment on actions to protect the oceans and seas to be assumed by the Heads of State, Government and high-level representatives of the 193 Member States of the organization.
The event, organized by the Portuguese and Kenyan Governments, was convened to discuss the future of the Blue Economy, given the negative impact of human actions on it, as they are jeopardizing its sustainability. During the five days, world leaders, including the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, pointed out the ways to correct the negative actions that compromise the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans, as well as marine resources.
The Angolan statesman, who was the first to speak at the Conference, defended the strengthening of maritime defense and security capacity, to facilitate international trade and, in this way, guarantee the protection of the oceans. In order to achieve this objective, President João Lourenço suggested joint and immediate actions against sea pirate groups, which carry out terrorist activities in the main maritime routes.
The Head of State highlighted, in particular, the problems registered in the Gulf of Guinea, in the Horn of Africa and in other areas of the planet, where piracy seriously threatens the use of the seas for peaceful purposes, such as trade, tourism and other related activities that boost economies.
“I consider the need to expand international cooperation with the countries of these regions to be important, in order to provide them with the capacity to face this global threat”, he said in his speech. The Head of State, who spoke in the presence of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, and several of his counterparts, said that the importance of the oceans for the regular flow of goods, in world trade and in stabilizing the prices of essential goods and raw materials, as well as as in the normal functioning of the global economy.
The Conference, postponed in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, was subordinated to the general theme “Expanding Ocean Action, based on Science and Innovation, for the implementation of Objective 14: inventory, partnerships and solutions”. of State and Government took the opportunity to join voices in order to mobilize global support, in order to implement, create, conserve and use, in a sustainable way, the seas, oceans and marine resources.
The organizers of the event highlighted that, despite the progress made in ocean actions, so far, the health of the oceans continues to deteriorate rapidly, due to the multidimensional challenges of pollution, overfishing and climate change. Allied to this, they added, is the Covid-19 pandemic, which has made unfeasible the hard-won progress in implementing the goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda, including Goal 14 (referring to the protection of the oceans and seas), bringing, thus, a new set of challenges for reaching targets by 2030.
It is hoped that the declaration of commitment, to be adopted today by the Heads of State and Government, will bring concrete proposals, which will allow action, in a categorical and urgent way, in order to guarantee a more sustainable and resilient use of the oceans, seas and their marine resources.
Country ends participation in the Conference with a positive balance
The spokeswoman for the Angolan delegation at the 2nd United Nations Conference on the Oceans, Paula Coelho, said that Angola ends its participation in the event with a positive balance. She made it known that of the three stands present at the event, two of them belonging to the organisation, the one in Angola was one of the most participatory, interactive and the most visited.
He said that this record is due to the interest shown by visitors in the country’s marine potential. “Visitors really liked the themes we brought, which present a multisectoral framework, such as the marine space planning, the project on turtles, whose slogan is: “oceans without turtles are nothing”, stressed Paula Coelho.
The official also highlighted the issues related to the work that the Society of Maritime and Port Women is carrying out along our coast. The spokeswoman said there was great anticipation regarding the declaration of commitment. She stressed that the Angolan executive will continue to work, increasingly closer to the private sector, creating new products for the so-called Green and Circular Economy, without, however, leaving anyone behind. In this exercise, the Executive counts on civil society, so that it can speak with one voice. It should be recalled that Angola is the rapporteur of the 2nd UN Conference on the Oceans.
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