Luanda - The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Carmen dos Santos, defended on Thursday, in Luanda, the creation of a marine ecosystem management platform, to ensure the availability of fishing resources in a sustainable manner.
The minister, who was speaking at the National Consultative Meeting of Stakeholders to Develop a Master Plan for Environmental Sustainability, said that aquatic food systems will cease to exist if the contribution of ecosystems is not considered.
According to the minister, these ecosystems contribute and play a vital role in the development and preservation of the environment and the well-being of riverside communities.
She recalled that the oceans, seas and inland waters offer a variety of ecosystems, the benefits of which revitalize fishing, aquaculture, tourism, maritime transport, among other sectors that constitute the economic base of countries.
She considered the African continent as a region rich in natural resources, with rivers, lakes, lagoons and wetlands that play a fundamental role in food security, nutrition and the economic progress of countries.
In turn, the representative of the African Union (AU), Mohamed Seisay, expressed Angola's desire to have a national blue economy plan, which must be aligned with this organization's strategy.
The SADC representative, Katrina Hilundwa, expressed her interest in supporting the growth and development of Angolan marine resources.
She said the Southern Region aims to help change the marine ecosystem and ensure sustainability for the future.
The blue economy is an emerging concept that encourages sustainable exploration, innovation and management of the ocean and its resources, promoting economic growth based on the preservation of marine ecosystems and environmental sustainability.
The National Consultative Meeting of Stakeholders to Develop a Master Plan for Environmental Sustainability, which ends this Saturday (11), aimed to guarantee initiatives that result in the responsible and inclusive exploitation of fishing resources, benefiting the entire African continent. ML/QCB/DOJ
