Namibia committed to protecting its ocean - Mbumba

Walvis Bay hosted the official World Ocean Day celebrations last Friday. World Ocean Day supports the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and fosters public interest in the protection of the ocean and the sustainable management of its resources.President Nangolo Mbumba attended and delivered the keynote address at the official event hosted at Independence Beach under the theme ‘Catalysing Action for Our Ocean and Climate&#039;.The president said the day is a platform to reflect on the significance of oceans, renew commitment to their preservation and sustainable use and acknowledge the critical role oceans play in sustaining life on the planet.“The Earth is close to choking under the weight of its own exploitation. Rising sea levels, ocean acidification, plastic pollution, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing practices and harmful fisheries subsidies are just a few of the challenges we face. It is imperative that we take urgent action to address these issues before it is too late," Mbumba said. Focus on ocean preservation He emphasised that the ocean can be given a breath of fresh air by Namibians reducing carbon emissions, tackling plastic pollution and actively combatting all forms of environmental degradation. “Our youth, as practitioners of change, are central to creating a nexus between climate, nature, and development.”Namibia is an active dual member of the high-level panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy (the Ocean Panel) and United Nations ocean treaties, Mbumba added.“We remain committed to meeting and exceeding our obligations flowing from treaties and conventions we have ratified, demonstrating our dedication to a sustainable future for our oceans," he said. “While understanding the importance of our ocean and the threats that lie ahead, the observance of World Ocean Day today must become a sacred day on which we all rededicate ourselves to partake in action aimed at preserving our ocean, ensuring that the ocean remains healthy for its continued sustenance of life on Earth.”More needed Minister of environment and tourism, Pohamba Shifeta, highlighted that coastal conservation still faces several challenges. “These include pollution and littering, especially during festive seasons, plastic pollution, infrastructure damage, lack of funding for coastal conservation, climate change impacts, incidents involving marine mammals and off-road driving affecting breeding sites of marine birds.”He added that to address these challenges, compliance by ocean users, including the fishing industry, needs to be ensured to protect marine biodiversity. “We must review and update relevant laws and their regulations, secure funds for research on climate change adaptation and mitigation and transform our identified ecologically or biologically significant areas into legally protected marine protected areas. Additionally, we must fully implement the Marine Spatial Plan and develop MSPs for other key areas like Lüderitz.”Fisheries and marine resources minister Derek Klazen reiterated that the challenges faced by oceans require urgent and coordinated efforts to address them effectively. “As a coastal nation, Namibia is committed to sustainable ocean management practices that promote conservation and responsible utilisation of marine resources," he said.He underlined that while the government is taking concrete steps to protect the country’s ocean, there is still much work to be done.As part of the celebrations, a clean-up campaign was hosted the day before the event, along with a sports day. In addition, residents set up stalls during the event.

Namibia committed to protecting its ocean - Mbumba

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-23

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Namibia committed to protecting its ocean - Mbumba

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-23

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