|
|
|
|
Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
Pictured from left to right are H.E. Dr. Elliston Rahming, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of The Bahamas to the United Nations and the Organisation of American States (OAS)and Chairman of the Save Our Sharks Coalition; Mr. Eric Carey, Executive Director, The Bahamas National Trust; H.E. Mr. Stuart Beck, Ambassador for Oceans and Seas, Palau, and President, Ocean Sanctuary Alliance.
|
NEW YORK -- H.E. Dr. Elliston Rahming, Ambassador and Permanent Representative
of The Bahamas to the United Nations and the Organisation of American States (OAS)
and Chairman of the Save Our Sharks Coalition, participated in the High-Level
Symposium entitled "One Ocean - Regenerating Fish Stocks, Achieving
Sustainable Development Goal 14" at the United Nations Headquarters on
Wednesday, July 1, 2015.
The event was held under the auspices of the Ocean Sanctuary Alliance and
co-organised by The Bahamas in conjunction with a cross-regional group of
several other UN Member States.
In his remarks, Dr. Rahming underscored the need for urgent action in the area
of ocean responsibility, which involves safeguarding the ocean through the
creation, preservation and expansion of marine sanctuaries in order to
regenerate fish stocks and achieve sustainable development.
The Ambassador reminded participants of the compelling fact that the ocean
covers 70 per cent of the earth's surface and comprises 90 per cent of the
planet's living space.
Unfortunately, however, the ocean is "threatened now, more than ever
before," he said, adding that there is a need for a paradigm shift in how
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) have been traditionally viewed and
understood. He proposed that they should instead be seen as "Large Ocean
Developing States" (LODS) in view of their vast marine territories which,
for countries such as The Bahamas, account for a larger surface area than the
total land mass.
"We are more than the piece of rock we live on,” Ambassador Rahming
asserted. “We are, more importantly, that vast body of water that we rely
on."
He concluded that The Bahamas, which established a shark sanctuary in 2011, was
most pleased to co-sponsor the event.
Mr. Eric Carey, Executive Director of The Bahamas National Trust, was also in
attendance and participated in one of the event's panel discussions, entitled
"Regenerating Fish Stocks - the Science of Zoning".
Mr. Carey gave a comprehensive presentation on The Bahamas' Ocean Legacy and
underscored both the challenges and the opportunities faced by The Bahamas in
sustainably managing the country's vast marine resources while also
highlighting the need for both science and effective public information in
effectively meeting these.
© Copyright 2015 by thebahamasweekly.com
Top of Page
|
|
|
|
