Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources, Ahmed Shiyam, has emphasised that urgent measures must be taken to mitigate the adverse impact of climate change on the marine environment. The Minister made the remark in a special message on the occasion of World Oceans Day.
In his message, Minister Shiyam said that as the world celebrates World Oceans Day, there is no doubt that the marine environment and the life in it are integral to and deeply interwoven with the lives of the Maldivians, serving as a vital source of sustenance and income. He described the ocean at the Maldives’ greatest natural blessing.
The Minister noted that since ancient times, the people of the Maldives have paid special attention to the sustainable use of marine resource. The Maldives’ sustainable and environment friendly fishing practices of centuries reflect the attention and care the people of the Maldives give safeguarding the marine environment, he noted. The Minister stressed that it is the responsibility of all to protect the marine environment and its surrounding environment and ecosystems and to pass it on in a healthy state to future generations.
The Minister noted the government’s unprecedented efforts to develop and expand the Maldives’ fisheries industry, and noted that the one of the most significant challenges to these efforts is the adverse impacts of climate change on the marine environment. Minister Shiyam said the warming of the seas due to climate changes have caused tuna species to migrate to deeper and more distant waters. As a result, the efficiency of traditional pole-and-line is affected, and it also prolongs periods of poor catch, he added.
The Minister said the climate challenges cannot be solved unless global efforts are made. Noting that there are several challenges to finding a quick solution to the issue in today's globalised world, the Minister emphasised that measures should be taken at the national level to adapt to climate change and mitigate its damage. The Minister also said that while fulfilling our individual responsibility to protect and maintain the marine environment, ocean-based industries should also be diversified to increase revenue, through embracing blue economy as a pillar in marine resource management.
The Minister underscored the importance of prioritising research on oceans and lagoons and its biodiversity, building human resource capacity, and inventing and introducing new technologies to achieve the goals set under the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. He noted that President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s emphasis on evidence-based governance reflects is a testament of the government’s commitment to the cause.
The Minister further said industries such as fisheries and tourism, which are dependent on the oceans, as well as marine environmentalists should establish a robust system to collect and exchange important information on the health and biodiversity of the seas. There is no doubt that this will play an important role in the management of the marine environment and sustainable use of marine resources, he said.