By mohamedj.bah@awokonewspapersl.com
Lisbon, Portugal – President Julius Maada Bio has sent a strong message to the global community: the world must act now to save the oceans. Speaking at the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), the President reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s unwavering commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14) — “Life Below Water” — and called for urgent, united action to protect marine ecosystems.
Addressing a high-level debate, President Bio painted a sobering picture of the state of the world’s oceans.
“The ocean, which connects the world, is sending distress signals that we can no longer ignore,” he declared.
The UNOC3, convened under UN General Assembly Resolution 77/242 (2023), seeks to accelerate global efforts toward achieving SDG 14, which focuses on conserving and sustainably using oceans, seas, and marine resources.
President Bio described the conference as more than just a policy dialogue — he called it a moment of “existential reckoning.”
“The triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution has converged most dramatically in the ocean,” he warned.
He cited alarming statistics, including the fact that nearly 90 percent of the world’s large fish species are either overexploited or depleted. Meanwhile, coral reefs — often referred to as the “rainforests of the sea” — are vanishing at an unprecedented rate.
Shifting focus to regional challenges, President Bio sounded the alarm on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing — a problem he said is crippling West Africa’s marine economy.
“West Africa has become the epicenter of IUU fishing,” he revealed, noting that Sierra Leone alone loses an estimated $50 million annually to the illicit practice — money that could be used to improve education, healthcare, and food security.
President Bio stressed that achieving SDG 14 is “not a luxury, and certainly not optional,” but a critical necessity for economic development, environmental protection, and the survival of coastal communities.
In a show of leadership, he unveiled three bold national commitments:
- Expand Marine Protected Areas to conserve biodiversity and restore marine habitats.
- Restore 30,000 hectares of mangrove forests, vital for coastal protection and carbon storage.
- Cut plastic pollution by 50% nationwide by 2030.
The President ended his remarks with a powerful call to action:
“Let us work together to take the bold actions needed to secure a sustainable future for our oceans and our planet.”
As the world grapples with the growing impact of climate change and marine degradation, President Bio’s address stands as a clarion call — not just for Sierra Leone, but for every nation that shares a stake in the future of our blue planet. MJB/10/6/2025
, the President reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s unwavering commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14) — “Life Below Water” — and called for urgent, united action to protect marine ecosystems.){kind=link}