Mozambique: Nyusi warns about misuse of oceans – AIM

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Mozambique: Nyusi warns about misuse of oceans – AIM

7:18 CAT | 22 Nov 2021

Photo: TVM

Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi on Thursday pointed out that the excessive pressure exerted on the oceans while exploiting living marine and aquatic resources, across the region, not only jeopardises their health but also threatens the future of the ecosystems.

Addressing the opening session of the 2nd Growing Blue Conference, under way in the coastal resort of Vilankulo, in the southern province of Inhambane, held in hybrid format, Nyusi said that the pressure results from the growth of the urban population along the coast, which causes habitat destruction.

The current trend, Nyusi stressed, runs counter to the regional objectives of protecting marine biodiversity, as a condition to ensure the health of the oceans.

“There has been an increasing concern echoed from every corner of the region about the misuse of resources, which causes devastation of habitats”, said Nyusi. “There has been growing pollution, loss of biodiversity, overfishing, climate change and pressure on the oceans”.

The oceans, Nyusi stated, play a role of paramount importance as roads that open international trade routes, connecting continents. Thus, there is a great need for their protection to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“From now on, from Vilankulo, our approaches will be driven to patterning and achieving the sea strategy through a sustained management of the maritime zones,” Nyusi said.

Nyusi also stressed that the protection of oceans and seas entails an inclusive and strong political commitment, which is an integrated and long term goal. It is not only an environmental issue, but of global interest intended to take the best out of the economic potential oceans offer.

Regarding the importance of the blue economy for the African continent, Nyusi said that oceans are part of special economic zones, a resource shared by about 60 per cent out of the 54 members of the African Union, for an area of total joint jurisdiction of 13 million square kilometres.

Nyusi also pointed out the need for stronger cooperation among regional countries to make use of the blue economy, through the ratification of a legal, regional and international framework which will catapult international trade through maritime transport. It must be attached to value chains of primary products, which include mineral resources from landlocked countries.

Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta, present at the conference, addressed a special session, stressed the urgent need for protection of aquatic and marine ecosystems, through concrete actions for sustainable exploration of the abundant resources along his country’s coast as well as in the neighbouring countries.

“The health of the oceans is urgent for the future of the world, the region and our communities. Kenya is committed to protecting the oceans, through a broad legislation which sets up the framework for the use of marine resources,” Kenyatta declared.

The African Union Commissioner for Rural Development and Blue Economy, Josefa Sacko, said the debates about ocean protection must take into account climate change, as an interconnected challenge. She pointed to regional cooperation as the way forward to discourage and combat every unsustainable practice.

Source: AIM