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As an ocean nation heavily dependent on marine resources, Cabo Verde in the ocean decade focuses on local and global actions to promote sustainable ocean management, José Maria Pereira Neves, president of Cabo Verde, told the General Debate of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday.

“We have been focused on the importance of sustainable ocean management, particularly for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) that are very vulnerable to climate change, and the degradation of marine ecosystems,” said the president.

For three consecutive years, the country has hosted international ocean conferences to foster partnerships between governments, the private sector, scientists, and civil society to advance ocean science and create innovative solutions to ocean challenges, according to Neves.

It is important to bring together key stakeholders in order to boost collaborative solutions for the oceans, help develop research capacities to study the impact of climate change and ocean acidification, and promote knowledge sharing and technology transfer to improve ocean monitoring and observation systems, he noted.

Cabo Verde remains committed to playing an active role within the SIDS community, said the president. In the first quarter of 2025, the country will host a High-Level Meeting for the Atlantic, Indian and South China Sea regions, aiming at establishing a coordination mechanism for the sub-region.

“It is essential that we continue to raise awareness on the need to safeguard our ecosystems, historical landmarks, traditional knowledge, and intangible cultural practices,” the president added.