Rabat – The Secretary of State to the Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests, in charge of Maritime Fisheries, Zakia Driouich, confirmed this Monday in Rabat that the new Law of the Sea and International Environmental Law agreement "BBNJ" regarding the conservation of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, represents a major step for the sustainable conservation and exploitation of marine resources in these areas.
In a speech during the opening of a regional workshop on the aforementioned agreement, Ms. Driouich highlighted Morocco's effective role in promoting a coordinated African vision on the main stakes of the agreement, particularly regarding the creation of marine protected areas, the fair distribution of marine resources, and the establishment of mechanisms for assessing environmental impacts.
She also reaffirmed the Kingdom's commitment, under the wise leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, to promoting an inclusive and sustainable blue economy and strengthening regional cooperation.
In this context, Ms. Driouich highlighted the importance of the Royal Atlantic Initiative aimed at strengthening the access of Sahel countries to the Atlantic Ocean, noting that "this vision, based on effective solidarity and comprehensive development, reflects a shared ambition to overcome geographical constraints and strengthen regional cooperation, allowing these countries to fully benefit from the opportunities offered by the maritime economy".
Furthermore, the Secretary of State recalled the efforts made by Morocco during the negotiations on the "BBNJ" agreement to facilitate the promotion of a coordinated African vision on the key components of the text discussed, including the creation of marine protected areas, studies on the impact of human activities on the marine environment, and access to marine resources and the fair and equitable sharing of their benefits.
For his part, the Deputy Head of the European Union Delegation, Daniel Dutto, highlighted the significant contribution of African countries to the drafting of the "BBNJ" agreement, congratulating the Seychelles for being the first African country to ratify the agreement.
Mr. Dutto announced that the European Union is committed to supporting the sustainable use of biodiversity on the high seas through the "Ocean" programme, funded with a budget of 40 million euros over six years.
He continued, "We are currently working on the first pillar of this programme, with a particular focus on providing technical assistance to support the national and regional efforts of developing countries in the field of high seas conservation and sustainable use, particularly regarding the ratification and implementation of the BBNJ agreement".
He explained that this support will complement many national and regional programmes recently adopted in the fields of ocean governance, the blue economy, and the conservation of marine and coastal ecosystems.
For her part, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Morocco, Nathalie Fustier, indicated that the new Law of the Sea and International Environmental Law agreement "BBNJ" constitutes an additional tool to support collective efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
Ms. Fustier emphasised that "the adoption of this agreement, two decades after its formulation, reflects the importance of multilateralism and international cooperation", adding that the entry into force of the agreement and its effective implementation require collective mobilisation involving states, UN organisations, and all stakeholders to work in a coordinated manner.
She noted, "We are fortunate to have representatives from about 30 African countries with us today, alongside other stakeholders", pointing out that this diverse participation reflects the cross-sectoral nature of the agreement, as its effective implementation depends on the support and cooperation of a wide range of actors.
In turn, Charlotte Salpin, representative of the UN Office of Legal Affairs, praised the efforts made by Morocco as coordinator of the African Group to strengthen capacities and transfer marine technology.
Ms. Salpin confirmed that "thanks to the active and effective participation of African countries, the agreement covers a number of issues of critical importance to Africa", highlighting that two out of the fifteen ratifications of the agreement received came from African countries, and that 22 African countries have signed the agreement.
She also highlighted the importance of this workshop, considering it a platform that allows officials and stakeholders in the region to obtain the necessary information to engage effectively in the implementation of the agreement's provisions.
This workshop, organised by the UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea with the support of the European Union, was attended by representatives of the United Nations, the European Union, and a number of government officials.
This event, hosted by Morocco, also brings together more than 120 participants from African countries bordering the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, in addition to some landlocked African countries.
This initiative comes within the framework of international efforts to strengthen sustainable ocean governance, with the participation of representatives of international and regional organisations and experts in marine biodiversity.
The workshop aims to enhance the understanding of stakeholders regarding the provisions of the "BBNJ" agreement, identify institutional and legal needs to ensure its effective implementation, and accompany countries in preparing for accession and ratification of this legal instrument.
This article The "BBNJ" Law of the Sea Agreement: A major step for the sustainable conservation and exploitation of marine resources (Ms. Driouich) appeared first on Map Ecology.
