On Friday in Bouknadel, Zakia Driouich, Secretary of State in charge of Maritime Fisheries, reaffirmed Morocco’s strong commitment to sustainable ocean governance, in line with the High Royal Directives.
According to a statement from the Secretariat of State in charge of Maritime Fisheries, Ms. Driouich spoke at the opening of the high-level preparatory workshop for the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC-3), scheduled from June 9 to 13, 2025, in Nice. She recalled that Morocco has adopted an ambitious blue economy roadmap.
This roadmap includes an integrated maritime legal framework, fisheries management plans, the development of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), and the fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, said the Secretary of State during the workshop, jointly organized by the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection and the French Embassy in Morocco.
On this occasion, Ms. Driouich praised the decisive role of the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection, notably through flagship initiatives such as Clean Beaches, Blue Flag, and #b7arblaplastic.
She emphasized the importance of involving youth and civil society in these efforts, recalling the participation of over 500 young people in the African consultation held in Tangier in October 2024, and the engagement of more than 950 young African experts in the oceanography capacity-building program launched in November 2024.
The Secretary of State also stressed the need for a strong and coordinated African voice at UNOC-3, based notably on the outcomes of key events held in Morocco, such as the African consultation in Tangier, the Blue Africa Summit forum, and the regional BBNJ workshop in Rabat.
In this regard, she called for the promotion of African initiatives in ocean governance, mobilization of blue finance, and strengthening of North-South, South-South, and triangular partnerships.
Furthermore, Ms. Driouich recalled that Morocco was among the first countries to ratify the Agreement on Marine Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), demonstrating its commitment to sustainable management of marine resources in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 on life below water.
She concluded by reaffirming the Kingdom’s readiness, under the enlightened leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, to share its experience and support African partners in developing an inclusive and sustainable blue economy, insisting on the necessity to anchor these efforts in a vision of food sovereignty, regional integration, and shared prosperity.
Held at the Hassan II International Center for Environmental Training, this workshop saw the participation of notable figures including Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, Special Envoy of the French President for the United Nations Ocean Conference and Ambassador for the Poles and Maritime Issues, and Tosi Mpanu Mpanu, Senior Advisor for Environment, Urban Planning, and Mobility to the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Source: lopinion
