President Nangolo Mbumba has said Namibia’s proximity to the ocean has enabled it to benefit from marine fishing and other water bodies, which contribute 5% to its gross domestic product with revenues of N$10 billion annually, creating thousands of jobs and contributing to food security.
The ocean covers over 70% of the planet, and produces at least 50% of its oxygen. It is home to most of earth’s biodiversity, and is the main source of protein for more than a billion people around the world.
It is also key to the economies of many countries, with an estimated 40 million people to be employed by ocean-based industries by 2030.
Speaking at the celebration of World Oceans Day in Walvis Bay on Friday, Mbumba said “sadly, the ocean, which billions of people depend on, is under threat from climate change and the harmful activities of human beings”.
He noted that rising sea levels, ocean acidification, plastic pollution and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing practices are just a few of the challenges the ocean faces.
The United Nations said governments, businesses, investors, scientists and communities must come together in defence of oceans.
“Climate change is triggering rising seas, and threatening the very existence of developing small island states and coastal populations. Record sea temperatures are sparking extreme weather events that affect us all. Ocean acidification is destroying coral reefs, breaking a vital link in food chains and threatening tourism and local economies,” they said, adding that unsustainable coastal development, overfishing, deep-sea mining, unchecked pollution and plastic waste are wreaking havoc on marine ecosystems across the globe.
“It is, therefore, imperative that we take urgent action to address these issues before it is too late by reducing carbon emissions, eradicating plastic pollution, and actively combating all forms of environmental degradation,” Mbumba said.
The President further noted that the blue economy is based on three pillars, namely environmental sustainability, economic sustainability and social inclusion.
It is thus crucial that Namibians safeguard the ocean from adverse impacts, and that they apply a precautionary approach towards activities which have the potential to harm biodiversity.
“Let us remember that the ocean is not just a vast expanse of water, it is a foundation of life, a source of hope, and a gateway towards prosperity for our economy and those of many other countries. Together, let us safeguard our ocean and climate, thereby ensuring a sustainable future for all humanity,” he continued.
The President said the day serves as an occasion to reflect on the significance of the ocean, to renew Namibians’ commitment to its preservation and sustainable use, and to acknowledge the critical role the ocean plays in sustaining life on the planet.
UN Secretary General António Guterres said it is time governments, businesses, investors, scientists and communities came together in defence of oceans.
‘’The ocean sustains and enhances all life on earth. But our ocean is in trouble, and we only have ourselves to blame,’’ said Guterres in his message on World Oceans Day.
-Additional reporting by Nampa