Africa makes sustainability commitments

At an event held at the Our Ocean conference in Athens, leaders unveiled a series of commitments including establishing a marine protected area in Ghana by 2026 and an ambition by Guinea-Bissau to exceed the target of protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030.

“Amidst the challenges of climate change, industrial overfishing and pollution, it’s inspiring to witness African leaders embracing transparency as an essential tool for ocean governance,” said Melissa Wright, who leads the Bloomberg Ocean Initiative, one of the organisers of the event.

Ghana’s first MPA

Covering around 700km² of biodiverse coastal waters, Ghana’s proposed MPA will be managed and implemented by the community. “Between our ongoing commitment to fisheries transparency and this new commitment towards marine conservation, Ghana is demonstrating strong commitment to the conservation and sustainability of its rich marine resources,” said Ghana’s Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Mavis Hawa Koomson.

Exceeding 30x30

Guinea-Bissau’s Minister of Environment, Biodiversity and Climate Action, Viriato LuÍs Soares Cassamá, set out the country’s ambitions which include adding Bijagós Archipelago to the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site list, and the creation of the second biosphere reserve in the Cacheu Complex and the coastal islands of Geta-Pixice.

“Currently, Guinea-Bissau has achieved a significant milestone, with 26.3% of its territory designated as protected areas, of which 12.6% are marine protected areas,” he said. “We are confident that if we continue on this path, we will not only achieve but significantly exceed the 30x30 target.”

Illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing decimates fish stocks in Africa, resulting in annual losses of more than US$11 billion. Madagascar and Cabo Verde are making significant strides in combatting IUU fishing, progressing to candidate status under the Fisheries Transparency Initiative. The Union of the Comoros is also hoping to join these ranks.