The conference focuses on accelerating the protection of the oceans and seas and the implementation of sustainable methods of exploitation. It will also explore a more effective involvement of different parties, including public, private and civil society representatives, in the protection of marine ecosystems. In addition, further opportunities will be sought to support the implementation of UN Sustainable Development Goal No 14 (conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas and marine resources).
Ambassador Katrin Saarsalu-Layachi stressed that keeping the marine environment clean and healthy is one of Estonia’s strategic priorities as a Baltic Sea country. “We are actively working with other coastal states to reduce the risk of marine pollution, ensure safe navigation and infrastructure protection, and find solutions to make waterborne transport more environmentally friendly so that the sea can provide a sustainable livelihood for future generations as well,” Saarsalu-Layachi said.
She also stressed that it is imperative to strengthen international cooperation beyond the Baltic Sea countries in order to ensure maritime security. “We need to find ways to ensure freedom of navigation and respect for international maritime law, while protecting strategic undersea infrastructure and safeguarding the security of coastal states.”
Reet Laos, Head of Maritime Development at the Ministry of Climate, noted that the development of the blue economy must remain within the limits of the environment. “The sustainable development of the maritime sector is essential to ensure a healthy marine environment and to use marine resources responsibly for the benefit of future generations,” Laos said. “Estonia has a prominent maritime sector, which is developing sustainable and innovative marine technologies on a daily basis. The potential of Estonian maritime companies and research institutions allows us to harness global changes for the benefit of Estonia’s competitiveness.”
This is the third United Nations Ocean Conference. The first conference dedicated to the marine ecosystem took place in New York in 2017 under the leadership of Sweden and Fiji, and the second in Lisbon in 2022 under the leadership of Portugal and Kenya.
