What You Need to Know
Mozambique’s Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries is committed to promoting sustainable marine resource management and enhancing the blue economy. Minister Roberto Mito Albino highlighted the ocean’s importance for the country’s development and the need for integrated management to address challenges like climate change and illegal fishing during the National Ocean Council’s 4th Ses
Africa-Press – Mozambique. Mozambique’s Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries (MAAP) will continue to promote the sustainable management of marine resources and to strengthen the blue economy. This commitment was reaffirmed by the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries, Roberto Mito Albino, who spoke virtually at the opening of the 4th Session of the National Ocean Council, which was held on Friday in the District of Matutuine, Maputo Province.
Minister Albino highlighted that the ocean constitutes one of the country’s strategic pillars for economic, social and environmental development, underlining that Mozambique, with around 2,700 kilometres of coastline and much of its population living in coastal areas, relies significantly on marine resources for food security, income generation and the livelihoods of thousands of families.
During his address, the minister noted that the growing demand for maritime space for various economic activities requires increasingly integrated, coordinated and sustainable management. In this context, he recalled that the Government had approved the Maritime Policy and Strategy (POLMAR), a framework guiding the planning, use and responsible exploitation of marine and coastal resources.
The minister also emphasised the role of the National Ocean Council, established under the 2019 Maritime Law, as a government advisory body responsible for monitoring the implementation of POLMAR, identifying institutional gaps, and proposing mechanisms to strengthen coordination among the various sectors involved in maritime space management. “
Interinstitutional coordination becomes even more relevant in a context where the country faces challenges such as the impacts of climate change, illegal fishing, marine pollution and other harmful practices affecting marine ecosystems, factors that require concerted and sustainable responses,” he stressed.
Roberto Mito Albino praised the role played by provincial governments, districts and coastal municipalities, as well as civil society organisations, in engaging communities to protect marine resources and promote nature-based solutions capable of reducing pressure on coastal ecosystems.
The 4th Session of the National Ocean Council focuses on the planning of maritime space and the complementary regulation of the regime for private use of the sea, issues considered fundamental to guiding balanced coastal development and ensuring that economic growth does not compromise citizens’ rights to sustainable use of the public maritime domain.
In officially opening the session, the minister expressed the expectation that the meeting would help strengthen institutional coordination, identify solutions to existing challenges, and define an integrated action roadmap to maximise the ocean’s potential, promote the development of the blue economy, and safeguard this important heritage for present and future generations.
Mozambique, with its extensive coastline, relies heavily on marine resources for economic and social development. The government has recognized the need for sustainable management practices to protect these vital resources. The establishment of the National Ocean Council under the 2019 Maritime Law marks a significant step in coordinating efforts to address challenges such as climate change and marine pollution, ensuring the long-term health of marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of coastal communities.
