Designated Minister Ferrari Attends 8th OACPS Meeting for Ministers Responsible for Oceans, Inland Waters, and Fisheries in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
The 8th Meeting of the Ministers responsible for Oceans, Inland Waters, and Fisheries of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) was attended by the Designated Minister and Minister for Fisheries and the Blue Economy, Hon. Jean-François Ferrari, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on 11th September 2024.
The meeting, themed “Accelerating Action for Sustainable and Resilient Oceans, Fsheries, and Aquaculture in OACPS Countries and Regions,” concentrated on strategies to strengthen sustainable ocean governance and address key sectoral challenges. Preceding the Ministerial Meeting, the Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) took place from 9th to 10th September 2024, which was attended by the Director General for Fisheries, Ms Sheriffa Morel.
During the Ministerial Meeting, Minister Ferrari engaged in an Open Dialogue Session titled “Enhancing Capacity for Sustainable Ocean Governance and Inclusive Marine Resources Management.” In his address, he emphasised the collective responsibility in tackling ocean-related challenges such as overfishing, pollution, and climate change, advocating for increased support to Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in bridging capacity gaps for implementing international commitments, including the BBNJ Treaty and the WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement.
Minister Ferrari highlighted Seychelles’ leadership in ocean governance, including the nation’s ratification of the BBNJ Treaty and the designation of over 30% of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as Marine Protected Areas, achieving the 30×30 target a decade ahead of schedule. Minister Ferrari also discussed Seychelles’ innovative approaches, such as debt-for-nature swaps for marine conservation, and he called for the adoption of a Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) to ensure equitable access to financial resources for vulnerable countries.
Following the OACPS meeting, Minister Ferrari and his delegation participated in the FAO Blue Foods Forum, held on 12th and 13th September 2024 under the theme “Unlocking the Potential of Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific.” Supported by Fish4ACP and the European Union, the Forum focused on advancing sustainable blue food systems across OACPS regions, facilitating the exchange of best practices and innovative approaches for fostering sustainable and resilient fisheries and aquaculture, critical to food security, nutrition, and economic growth in these regions.
On the sidelines of the OACPS-related meetings, Minister Ferrari held bilateral meetings with Tanzania’s Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, Hon. Abdallah Ulega, accompanied by Ms. Maryvonne Pool, the Honorary Consul for Seychelles in Tanzania, and Ghana’s Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Hon. Mavis Hawa Koomson, respectively, to explore areas of mutual interest in the fisheries sector.
The discussions focused on:
• The formalisation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on fisheries cooperation.
• The finalisation of an Agreement on Administrative Cooperation (ACA) between Seychelles and both countries for the implementation of cumulation provisions under the European Union’s preferential trading frameworks.
Source : Department of Fisheries – Seychelles
