Windhoek: In a significant move towards enhancing marine conservation, Namibia's Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, Inge Zaamwani, has unveiled a government initiative aimed at expanding marine protection efforts. This initiative is part of the nation's strategy to align with the global '30 by 30' conservation target set by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

According to Namibia Press Agency, the minister announced the identification of several ecologically or biologically sensitive areas (EBSAs) which are now being considered for designation as protected regions. This step is crucial for Namibia to meet the commitment of conserving at least 30 per cent of its land, inland water, coastal, and marine areas by 2030. The announcement was made during the World Oceans Day commemoration held in Windhoek under the theme 'Reimagine: Beyond the World We Know, A New Relationship with Our Ocean.'

The 2026 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) target tracker indicates that Namibia currently has conservation metrics of 39.92 per cent for terrestrial areas but only 1.69 per cent for marine areas. Minister Zaamwani acknowledged the need for increased efforts to boost marine conservation to achieve the set targets.

Additionally, Namibia's Blue Economy Strategy is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: Life Below Water. The Benguela Current has been instrumental in developing one of the world's most productive fishing industries, and the government is advancing policies and action plans to support a sustainable Blue Economy. Minister Zaamwani emphasized the importance of understanding oceanic ecosystems and the collective efforts required, especially from coastal communities whose livelihoods are directly dependent on the ocean.

World Oceans Day, officially designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 2008, aims to raise awareness about the significance of oceans and humanity's reliance on them.