The Maldives has issued an urgent appeal for increased international investment in marine conservation, warning that climate change and ocean degradation pose an existential threat to the island nation. Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources Ahmed Shiyam stressed the need for decisive financial commitments during a high-level discussion on the sidelines of the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), held in Nice, France, from 9 to 13 June.
With policymakers and environmental experts in attendance, Shiyam outlined the growing urgency of protecting fragile marine ecosystems. He underscored the Maldives' proactive conservation strategies, highlighting ongoing efforts designed to enhance resilience and sustainability in the face of escalating environmental challenges.
The country, he elaborated, has spearheaded initiatives in sustainable fisheries management and coral reef restoration, setting a global benchmark in marine conservation. Its programmes have been developed to preserve biodiversity while ensuring long-term ecological balance, reinforcing the Maldives' leadership in ocean protection, he added. Despite these achievements, Minister Shiyam cautioned that the Maldives cannot address these challenges alone.
Delivering remarks at the UNOC3 conference, Minister Shiyam stressed the importance of international collaboration and urged nations to take meaningful steps to safeguard marine ecosystems. Small island developing states, he noted, continue to face significant financial barriers in securing necessary funding, with existing aid mechanisms often proving inaccessible or insufficient.
Developed nations and financial institutions, he asserted, must facilitate more equitable access to funding that enables vulnerable countries to sustain conservation efforts. Without stronger financial commitments, global marine ecosystems remain at risk, warned Shiyam, underscoring the urgent need for a collective approach to ocean preservation.