By: Saidu Jalloh
His Excellency Dr. Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, delivered a powerful call for urgent global cooperation to safeguard ocean health during his address at the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3). He reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s unwavering commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water), emphasizing the urgent need for collective global action to address the ocean crisis.
The conference, held under United Nations General Assembly Resolution 77/242 (2023), is aimed at accelerating efforts toward the achievement of SDG 14, which focuses on the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas, and marine resources.
Delivering a keynote speech during a high-level debate, President Bio underscored the dire state of the world’s oceans, calling them the “planet’s life source” and warning that they are “sending distress signals that we can no longer ignore.”
He described the event as both a critical policy forum and a moment of existential reckoning, noting that the triple planetary crisis climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution has converged most dramatically in the ocean.
Citing alarming data, President Bio pointed out that 90 percent of large fish species are overexploited or depleted, and coral reefs, often referred to as the “rainforests of the sea,” are disappearing at a dangerous pace.
Turning to regional challenges, President Bio highlighted the growing crisis of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in West Africa, describing the region as a new epicenter of the problem.
He revealed that Sierra Leone loses an estimated \$50 million annually to IUU fishing, funds which, he stressed, could significantly boost national development sectors such as education, healthcare, and food security.
“We must recognize that implementing Sustainable Development Goal 14 is not a luxury, and certainly not optional. It is an urgent necessity for our economies, our ecosystems, and ultimately, for our survival,” President Bio declared.
To strengthen Sierra Leone’s commitment to ocean sustainability, President Bio announced three key national initiatives: expanding marine protected areas to preserve biodiversity and restore marine ecosystems, restoring at least 30,000 hectares of mangrove forests, which are essential for coastal protection and carbon sequestration and launching a nationwide campaign to reduce plastic pollution by 50 percent by 2030.
President Bio concluded his speech with a strong appeal for unified international cooperation, emphasizing that only bold, decisive actions can safeguard the oceans for future generations.
“Let us work together to take the bold actions needed to secure a sustainable future for our oceans and our planet,” he urged.
The conference served as a critical platform for countries like Sierra Leone to highlight their challenges, share their commitments, and rally international support to achieve the global goal of healthy, resilient oceans.