PM calls for end to ocean pollution

PRIME minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila has called for an integrated fight against ocean pollution and maritime piracy for all oceans, as they play an indispensable role in the economy of all countries.

Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said this on Tuesday at the second United Nations Ocean Conference in Lisbon, Portugal.

The prime minister said countries cannot engage in 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,” Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said.

She added that 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,” she said.

It threatens global supply chains and the tourism industry as well as the strategic role of coastal states to support land-locked economies through their ports, Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said.

She stressed that the international community must address this issue collectively by supporting capacity development programmes in developing countries.

“To support ongoing efforts for sustainable ocean management, investment in science, research and development should be increased as this would help generate data and support the development of new technologies,” the prime minister added.

According to Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, Namibia is one of 38 coastal states out of 55 on the African continent.

“Increasingly, we are creating links through road, rail and air transport infrastructure, turning what used to be 'landlocked countries' into sea-linked countries,” she said.

“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 we feel compelled to play our role in the sustainable use of marine resources,” Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said.

She said Namibia supports a strengthened multilateral approach in addressing the unprecedented threats facing the ocean.

The prime minister added that strong multilateralism will support the mobilisation of financial resources and address challenges such as overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities.