The Secretary of State to the Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests, in charge of Maritime Fisheries, Zakia Driouich, reaffirmed on Tuesday in Nice Morocco’s commitment, under the enlightened leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, to the preservation of the marine environment and the sustainable development of the blue economy, on the occasion of the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC-3) taking place in the azure capital.
“The Kingdom of Morocco, under the Wise and enlightened Vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, has made the preservation of the marine environment a strategic axis of its sustainable development,” emphasized Ms. Driouich, who spoke during the plenary session of the UN conference co-organized by France and Costa Rica, under the theme “Accelerating action and mobilizing all stakeholders to conserve and sustainably use the ocean.”
In accordance with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 14, Morocco has made substantial efforts to protect and preserve its marine and coastal ecosystems, she added, referring to the UNOC process, which today constitutes the main multilateral framework dedicated to the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG14) “Life Below Water,” related to the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas, and marine resources.
The Secretary of State assured in this regard that “Morocco, as an exemplary maritime nation with its 3,500 km of coastline, its port infrastructure, and its geographical position, remains fully committed to the protection and sustainable management of the oceans,” a commitment that “is reflected in concrete actions and structuring initiatives in favor of inclusive and equitable ocean governance.”
She highlighted the structuring initiatives implemented by Morocco in this regard, including the creation of marine protected areas, the fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, the reduction of plastic pollution, the integration of renewable energies, as well as the adoption of an integrated and participatory approach to the management of fishery resources, involving local communities and younger generations.
The Secretary of State recalled that Morocco is among the first countries to have ratified the Agreement on Marine Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), adopted in 2023, thus consolidating its commitment to a multilateral legal framework for the protection of the high seas, and notably for “equitable maritime governance and the protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems.”
Beyond national efforts, she emphasized the Kingdom’s commitment to South-South cooperation promoted by His Majesty the King, as evidenced by the launch of the Atlantic Royal Initiative, “an ambitious vision in favor of landlocked Sahel countries, allowing them to access the Atlantic through a maritime corridor,” specifying that “this historic initiative aims to strengthen South-South cooperation and promote integrated economic development, ensuring these nations strategic access to the opportunities offered by the blue economy.”
“Morocco is convinced that South-South and triangular cooperation, technology transfer, and capacity building are essential to address the challenges related to the ocean,” particularly with a view to enabling “developing countries, especially African ones, to fully benefit from the blue economy while ensuring the sustainability of marine resources.”
The Kingdom, said Ms. Driouich, which has integrated the blue economy into its national policies, focused on key sectors: fishing, coastal tourism, maritime transport, ports, marine aquaculture, biotechnology, and renewable energies, is ready to collaborate, as an engaged partner, with all relevant stakeholders to reduce marine pollution, protect biodiversity, promote sustainable fishing practices, and ensure responsible governance of marine resources.
“Through concrete initiatives, ambitious strategies, and active participation in international bodies, our country is resolutely contributing to building a future where the Ocean remains a source of shared prosperity and a vector of resilience in the face of environmental challenges,” concluded the Secretary of State.
In addition to her plenary intervention at UNOC-3, the Secretary of State in charge of Maritime Fisheries participated in a side event organized by her department to highlight Morocco’s initiatives, under the impetus of His Majesty the King, for the preservation of the marine environment and the development of a resilient blue economy in Africa.
More than 50 heads of state and government and over 1,500 delegates from nearly 200 countries are participating in UNOC-3 (June 9-13) to scrutinize various aspects related to the oceans, ranging from sustainable fishing to marine pollution, as well as the interactions between climate and biodiversity.
After New York in 2017 and Lisbon in 2022, this new edition of the UN conference is presented as “a major step” in the international agenda for ocean governance, facing numerous challenges related notably to climate change, rising sea levels, marine pollution, overfishing, and illegal fishing.
