Namibia supports a strengthened multilateral approach to addressing the unprecedented threats facing the ocean such as overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities, Prime Minister, Dr. Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila has said.
Speaking at the occasion of the second United Nations ocean conference last week, Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said that equally, it is only through strong multilateralism that we will address pressing challenges such as climate change, food insecurity, diseases and pandemics, diminishing biodiversity, economic inequality and even conflicts and strife.
“We must act now to protect the state of our ocean. 6. Namibia continues to strengthen its policy framework to support an action oriented approach to sustainably leveraging the benefits of the ocean economy. To this end, we continue to be engaged in the development of our national policy on the blue economy.
“We cannot engage on the issue of marine and aquatic resources without looking into the negative impact of pollution. Pollution in oceans should be viewed in a holistic manner. If land pollution control measures are poorly implemented, ocean pollution is inevitable. In this regard, investments should be increased to prevent and manage pollution both on land and in the ocean. The degree of the interconnectedness of the global economy demands that maritime piracy must be seen as a common problem and a threat to all of us. It threatens global supply chains and the tourism industry, as well as the strategic role of coastal states to support landlocked economies through their ports,” Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said.
She went on to note that at the heart of the Namibian economy, is the ocean.
“We draw sustenance and anchor many of our livelihoods in the ocean economy, and therefore feel compelled to play our role in the sustainable use of marine resources. As a member of the High-Level Panel on Sustainable Ocean Economy, we do not only advocate for this to garner increased international commitment and action-oriented support to the important focus on the Blue Ocean economy, but also in the local context,” she said adding that Namibia understands that a healthy and sustainable ocean will not only fight climate change but also contributes to environmental sustainability, food security, poverty eradication and social equity.
“Namibia has therefore committed to implement three critical areas of the Transformations document i.e. Ocean Wealth, Ocean Health and Ocean Equity, with corresponding themes of sustainable ocean food, sustainable ocean energy, sustainable ocean transport, a precautionary approach to seabed mining, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, protecting and restoring marine & coastal ecosystems, reducing ocean pollution, and promoting equal opportunity for people to benefit from the ocean,” she said.