By Andrea Hargraves 
“The Sustainable fishing is central to coastal areas and plays an important role in the sustainability of our food (…) It is a critical tool in the 2030 Agenda “and therefore we must be able to find solutions”, urged Spain’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas , in his speech at the United Nations Ocean Conference, which is taking place in Lisbon.
The Spanish minister promised that Spain “will continue its activity and leadership” in this field, confirming what he heard at this conference that “overfishing and poaching are threats that must be put to an end.”
Planas cited the “success” of Spain’s experience in marine reserves, “which cover many hectares and seek to restore marine ecosystems and protect small fisheries,” as an example of what could be done.
“Spain, with its long coastline and millions of square kilometers of sea with its many species, has always seen the oceans as important to our economy, culture and way of life,” he said.
Science, “essential to provide solutions for the sustainable use of natural resources and the protection of biodiversity,” was another key component of Planas’ intervention.
The minister defended scientific research, saying that “decision-making in the management of economic activities related to fishing depends on the best available knowledge.”
The representative of Spain continued that the final documents of this conference “must reflect this”, stressing that marine ecosystems and biodiversity have a critical role in food security and economies.
Luis Planas is confident that the global agreement on plastics, negotiated within the framework of the United Nations, “will also help solve the devastating pollution phenomenon” of the oceans and preserve biodiversity for future generations.
The second United Nations Ocean Conference, jointly organized by Portugal and Kenya, began on Monday and ends on Friday in Lisbon.
Read also: A UN official expects a strong statement at the end of the conference
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