The ministers of the member states of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) responsible for ocean affairs approved, on Tuesday (9), following a meeting, the Strategic Plan for Ocean Cooperation (2026-30).
Following the 4th Extraordinary Meeting of CPLP Ministers of Maritime Affairs, held at the organization’s headquarters in Lisbon, the ministers approved “by consensus” the plan aimed at strengthening maritime cooperation among member states in the coming years, explained Marcos da Cruz, Timor-Leste’s Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Forests, who chaired the meeting, during the closing session.
According to the minister, the strategic plan will strengthen ocean governance, promote a sustainable blue economy, and encourage scientific research, innovation, and knowledge transfer; it will also reinforce the protection and conservation of marine ecosystems, develop technical and human capacities, and deepen institutional cooperation among the community’s member countries.
“During this meeting, we had the opportunity to reflect on the challenges and opportunities that the ocean presents to our countries, as well as on the collective responsibility we share in promoting sustainable governance of marine resources,” said the Timorese official.
He also emphasized that, in a global context marked by the challenges of climate change, environmental degradation, and growing pressure on marine resources, this plan also represents a renewed commitment to sustainable development, food security, the resilience of coastal communities, and the responsible use of marine resources.
“More than just a forum for debate, this meeting confirmed that the CPLP continues to assert itself as a privileged platform for political consultation and technical cooperation, capable of transforming shared visions into concrete commitments and effective actions,” added Marcos da Cruz.
The Portuguese Minister of Agriculture and the Sea, José Manuel Ferreira Fernandes, stated after the plan was approved that it has several pillars, such as—in addition to the aforementioned sustainability—maritime safety, surveillance, and protection, as well as literacy.
“I would say that there is cooperation here for the oceans that unite us, so that, ultimately, we too can take advantage of our exclusive economic zones—given that Brazil and Portugal are among the [countries] with the largest exclusive economic zones—and that they reinforce our presence and our strength on a global scale, linked to the language,” declared the minister, who also highlighted the importance of this agreement, approved precisely on World Oceans Day.
The CPLP, which celebrates its 30th anniversary on July 17, comprises Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, and East Timor, with the latter currently holding the organization’s rotating presidency.
Source: Lusa
