Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion Carmelo Abela inaugurated a symposium entitled ‘Perspectives on Global Ocean Governance: Where do we stand and where do we go from here?’ The symposium, organised by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion in collaboration with Malta’s International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI), serves to commemorate Malta’s significant contribution at the United Nations on the International Law of the Sea and to launch a debate on the future of global ocean governance. It was exactly 50 years ago since Dr. Arvid Pardo, Malta’s first Permanent Representative to the United Nations, introduced the concept of the seas and oceans as the “common heritage of mankind”. This concept eventually turned into a doctrine that ultimately led to a fifteen-year process leading up to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
In his address to a number of prominent professionals, including foreign dignitaries, academics and NGO representatives in the field of ocean governance, Minister Carmelo Abela said: ‘Since 1967, Malta’s tireless efforts remain still very relevant today. Malta has always supported maritime affairs initiatives and demonstrated leadership on a number of occasions. We want to continue in this vein for the future.’
Minister Abela said that Malta’s foreign policy efforts will continue to be geared towards the further development of international ocean governance, maritime security, blue growth, and the protection and promotion of marine biodiversity via a two-track multilateral approach: the United Nations and the European Union.
He stated that healthy oceans are one of the greatest and richest resources that the world has to offer. Malta has joined the international drive to tackle all sorts of threats to the marine environment with the utmost urgency, taking serious commitments to reduce waste generated by plastic bottles drastically and effectively. Current predictions strongly indicate that, by 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in our seas, unless action is taken immediately.
Malta has also recognised the importance of identifying and designating marine protected areas to ensure good governance, management, conservation, and protection of our seas. We already registered a national voluntary commitment designating 30 per cent of all the water under our jurisdiction as marine protected areas. These sites, 14 in all, will help restore and strengthen ecosystem resilience and further protect the ecosystem whilst mitigating adverse effects from global warming and other stressors on the marine environment.
Minister Carmelo Abela also said that a proactive approach on marine and climate-related issues through the Commonwealth Small State Centre of Excellence is being adopted and will be launched in the near future.
The audience was also addressed by video messages of the Prime Minister of Malta Joseph Muscat, by the European Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Karmenu Vella, and also heard a special message read out on behalf of the United Nations Secretary General António Guterres.
The symposium was part of a series of events that are being organised by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion to commemorate Arvid Pardo’s 50-year legacy and to reaffirm Malta’s prominent role in international maritime affairs. Such events includes the launch of an awareness campaign for primary and secondary school children focusing on the protection and preservation of our oceans as well as a side event and plenary at the United Nations organised on 5 December by the Maltese Permanent Representative to the UN in New York Carmel Inguanez and all his mission staff.