UNOC WELCOME AND HIGH-LEVEL OPENING SESSION “The Ocean We Depend On: Achieving SDG 14 Through Sustainable Governance” Opening Remarks

Your Royal Highness,

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to be with you today to discuss longstanding ocean partnerships and our shared commitment to the ocean we depend on.

We are here to reflect on ocean governance, food and nutrition security, regional cooperation, and the blue economy, but also to celebrate the unique collaboration between Norway, FAO and partner countries through the Nansen Programme.

FAO is committed to supporting Members in achieving the transformation of global agrifood systems to be more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable - and Norway is here to celebrate fish!

The FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31 is based on the aspiration of the Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life for all - leaving no one behind.

Our vision for aquatic systems is the Blue Transformation roadmap, which guides our work to expand aquatic food systems and increase their contribution to food security and nutrition and affordable, healthy diets for all.

To produce 1kg of fish, you need 1 – 2 kg of animal feed; to produce 1kg of beef, you need 6kg of animal feed. The choice is easy if you want to be sustainable!

Especially for the most vulnerable, while fostering equitable growth, in particular for those communities that depend on fisheries and aquaculture.

Sustainable aquatic food systems are vital for rural development, economic resilience, equitable growth and for unlocking the global blue economy - we need an aquatic fish culture!

And most importantly, for sustaining 600 million livelihoods - most of them operating in small-scale fisheries and aquaculture.

The production of fisheries and aquaculture products reached a record 228 million tonnes in 2023, providing an average of almost 21 kg of aquatic foods. But there is a difference from region to region: Africa produces only three percent, while Asia produces almost 97 percent.

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

I am very pleased to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the joint FAO-Norway Nansen Programme with you today, as it is an outstanding example of successful long-term collaboration. We need stable commitment for continuity in our life.

Over five decades, we have built knowledge and capacity in fisheries research and management in partner countries and strengthened regional cooperation.

We are grateful to Norway for their commitment and support, including our long-time partnership with the Institute of Marine Research.  

Let us continue to work together in an efficient, effective and coherent manner, to move forward together, with a shared sense of purpose, to ensure sustainability across all three dimensions: environmental, economic and social.

Let us continue to build partnerships, support sustainable management, and empower the next generation.

By working together, we can create a future where our marine ecosystems thrive, our fishermen prosper, our coastal communities flourish, and no one is left behind.

Thank you for your commitment to our shared vision of One Ocean, for all.