Mohamed Seddiqi chairs the delegation of the Kingdom of Morocco to the United Nations Conference on Oceans
The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests, Mohamed Seddiqi, heads the delegation of the Kingdom of Morocco to the United Nations Conference on Oceans, which will be held from 27 June to 1 July 2022 in Lisbon, Portugal.
The Ocean Conference aims to provide innovative science-based solutions to open a new chapter in global ocean action. It is one of the first milestones in the Decade of Action to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
The plenary session on the first day in the presence of heads of state is reserved for the opening speeches, the adoption of the rules of procedure, and the election of the organs of the conference.
The oceans are more threatened than ever by marine pollution, the degradation caused by various forms of exploitation, and destructive human activities, which are exacerbated by the adverse effects of climate change and biodiversity loss.
In his address during the opening plenary, the Minister noted that with every day that passes without action for the effective protection of the oceans, the inestimable potential for economic growth and social and cultural development that exists in marine spaces is being jeopardized and the survival and survival of humanity being undermined.
To meet these challenges and reverse major trends, the international community must rethink the way it develops. In this regard, the blue economy now represents a new opportunity that is fully in line with the spirit of sustainability and resilience.
advocated by the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda. As such, establishing rational and equitable management of the oceans is essential.
In his speech, the minister emphasized that Morocco is fully committed to the international community to face the challenges facing humanity.
A commitment is underlined by its commitment to and ratification of legal instruments relevant to the marine environment and its ongoing work to strengthen the resulting collaborative frameworks.
"Based on the successful experience of several sectoral strategies, including the Heliotis strategy for the development of the fisheries sector that began in 2009 and the promotion of oceanographic research that allows monitoring of oceanographic.
and real fisheries, Morocco has embarked on an ambitious blue economy development program, which aims to enhance the integration of its strategies marine sectoral around a comprehensive, effective and innovative vision of the ecosystem,” the Minister outlined in his speech.
In order to ensure a balance in the management of its marine space, Morocco has embarked on the process of marine spatial planning,
with the aim of accelerating the emergence of real marine economic ecosystems in line with the national policy of advanced regionalization that highlights the critical role of the region in achieving sustainable regional development.
To make these efforts more effective, additional measures have been implemented, such as the "blue belt" initiative launched by Morocco on the occasion of COP22, combating marine and plastic pollution, and establishing marine protected areas. Morocco has also enacted a law dedicated to managing its coasts.
Recognizing environmental issues and a shared responsibility to combat the effects of climate change, Morocco has revised its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) upwards with the ambition of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 45.5% by 2030.
The Moroccan delegation headed by the Minister includes representatives from the departments of Maritime Fisheries, Sustainable Development, the Merchant Marine, the Interior, Foreign Affairs, Finance, and the Royal Navy, in addition to the National Ports Agency,
the National Institute for Humanitarian Research and the Mohammed VI Agency for the Protection of Fisheries. Environment, FENIP, and representatives of elected bodies.