Lisbon — Angola's President of Republic João Lourenço Monday in Lisbon (Portugal) called for controlled exploitation of marine resources and the fight against illegal fishing to ensure the sustainable future of the new generations.
The Angolan statesman made the appeal while speaking at the opening session of the International Conference on Oceans, running until July 1.
Delivering his speech, João spoke of the need for States to set out the rules for the sustainability of the oceans and, therefore, to guarantee the preservation and protection of the marine environment.
To João Lourenço, it is necessary to find answers to the growing need to implement new paradigms of sustainable exploitation of the immense resources that the Oceans make available, seeking to explore in an increasingly sustainable way and preserve for future generations.
"Angola maintains a relationship with the Atlantic Ocean that forces us to develop initiatives and seek solutions that compete for its use in ways that protect it and serve the interests of all the countries that border it", he said.
In view of this perspective, he said, that the Angolan authorities are developing actions to extend the limits of the Exclusive Economic Zone, to take the necessary steps with the competent United Nations commission.
The intention is to legally enshrining this goal, on the basis of which it will be possible to start using and protecting the resources that are found in areas close to the coast and that are being dilapidated by unlicensed foreign fishing fleets.
"The oceans are not only an important source of wealth for the economies of the countries that bathe them, but they have always played an important role in the mobility of peoples, in the interaction and integration of different cultures, religions, habits and customs of peoples and in the exchanges trade between nations", added the Angolan statesman.
The conference will address the conservation and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for a development that does not harm the environment, nature and the planet.
