Our reporter
TANGA, Tanzania, July 2 — Tanzania has called on government institutions, the private sector, researchers and civil society organizations to capitalize on opportunities arising from the country's hosting of the 12th Conference of the Parties (COP12) to the Nairobi Convention, scheduled for Oct. 6-9.
Speaking in the northeastern city of Tanga on Thursday, Deputy Minister in the Vice President's Office (Union and Environment), Reuben Kwagilwa, said the conference would provide a platform to strengthen regional cooperation on marine environmental protection while creating opportunities for investment, innovation and sustainable development under the blue economy.
Kwagilwa said Tanzania was selected to host COP12 and to chair the Nairobi Convention's Bureau during the 11th Conference of the Parties held in Madagascar in 2024.
He said delegates would review implementation of the convention's 2024-2026 work programme and discuss key priorities, including the conservation and restoration of marine ecosystems such as mangrove forests, coral reefs and seagrass beds.
The deputy minister said Tanzania has continued to prioritize environmental protection and the sustainable management of marine and inland water resources, adding that the country's Development Vision 2050 identifies the blue economy as a strategic sector for driving long-term economic growth, social development and environmental sustainability.
Tanga Regional Commissioner Ambassador Dr. Batilda Burian said recent research indicates that climate change is already affecting fisheries and aquaculture along Tanzania's coast.
She said average sea surface temperatures in the region rose from 25.6 degrees Celsius in 2021 to 28.39 degrees in 2024, reducing the number of safe fishing days from 221 to 170 annually due to stronger winds and rougher seas. Fish catches have also declined by an estimated 25% to 30%, she added.
Deputy Permanent Secretary for Environment Baraka Luvanda said the conference is expected to attract between 500 and 600 participants, including government leaders, scientists and environmental experts from member states of the Nairobi Convention, the regional legal framework for the protection, management and development of the marine and coastal environment of the Western Indian Ocean under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
