Mrs. Driouch Highlights Morocco’s Leadership in Ocean Governance During the Preparatory Workshop for the UN Ocean Conference in Bouknadel
Mrs. Zakia Driouch, Secretary of State to the Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests, in charge of Maritime Fisheries, took part in the high-level preparatory workshop for the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC-3). The workshop was organized by the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection, chaired by Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Hasnaa, in partnership with the French Embassy, on Friday, May 9, 2025, at the Hassan II International Center for Environmental Training in Bouknadel.
This workshop was marked by the participation of high-level figures, including H.E. Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, Special Envoy of the President of the French Republic for the UN Ocean Conference and Ambassador for Polar and Maritime Issues, and H.E. Tosi Mpanu Mpanu, Principal Advisor on Environment, Urban Planning, and Mobility to the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Also in attendance were Mr. Ismail Farjiyah, Executive Director of Communications and Project Development at the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection, and Mr. Ayman Cherkaoui, Director of the Hassan II International Center for Environmental Training, along with other distinguished personalities.
In her speech on the occasion, the Secretary of State emphasized the pioneering role of the Kingdom of Morocco in ocean governance, in line with the High Directives of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him. She highlighted that Morocco has adopted an ambitious roadmap for the blue economy, which includes a comprehensive legal framework for marine activities, fisheries management plans, the development of marine protected areas, and the fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Mrs. Driouch praised the crucial role played by the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection, under the leadership of Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Hasnaa, particularly through its pioneering initiatives such as “Clean Beaches,” the “Blue Flag,” and the “Sea Without Plastic” campaign. She also stressed the importance of youth and civil society engagement in these efforts, recalling the participation of over 500 young people in the African consultation held in Tangier in October 2024, and the contribution of more than 950 young African experts to the Ocean Science Capacity Building Program launched in November 2024.
The Secretary of State underlined the necessity of conveying a strong and united African voice at the Third UN Ocean Conference to be held in Nice, France, from June 9 to 13, 2025. She emphasized the importance of building on the outcomes of structural meetings organized in Morocco, such as the African Consultation in Tangier, the “Africa Blue Summit” Forum, and the regional workshop on the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement held in Rabat. She called for highlighting and promoting African initiatives in ocean governance, mobilizing blue finance, and strengthening North-South, South-South, and multilateral partnerships.
In this context, the Secretary of State noted that Morocco was among the first countries to ratify the BBNJ Agreement, reflecting its commitment to the sustainable management of marine resources, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 14 on life below water. She concluded her remarks by reaffirming Morocco’s readiness, under the wise leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, to share its experience and support its African partners in developing an inclusive and sustainable blue economy. She emphasized the need to incorporate these efforts into an integrated vision for food sovereignty, regional integration, and shared prosperity.
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