Roundtable discussion unpacks way forward post UNOC 3

Rounding up South Africa’s participation in UNOC 3

SOUTH AFRICA: The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) co-hosted a roundtable discussion with the Embassy of France in Cape Town on Friday to reflect on the outcomes of the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC 3) and explore future steps for the country.

With participants representing the scientific sector, conservation groups, government, NGOs, communities, academia and municipalities, many of the voices around the table had either been involved directly at UNOC 3 in France last month, or will be impacted by discussions being held.

According to Denys Reva, Research at the ISS, the aim of the morning’s engagement was to unpack the outcomes of the conference and explore their relevance for South Africa’s ocean governance and blue economy ambitions.

Guests shared their insights on how to bolster South Africa’s ambitions given the challenges that exist in positioning the sometimes-competing ocean sectors for improved sustainability and growth of the country’s blue economy.

The ISS and the Embassy of France will take these discussions further over the remainder of the year and into 2026 as they plan to host Blue Talks aimed at helping shape a clearer understanding of South Africa’s current priorities and future direction for sustainable ocean development.

Ratification of BBNJ

South Africa was one of the 18 countries to sign the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement at UNOC 3 and, according to Radia Razack, Acting Deputy Director-General: Oceans and Coasts at the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, this major milestone will be followed up with a “transparent process” to ratify the treaty.

Playing a dominant role in the roundtable, Razack, said that the signing of the BBNJ and the country’s participation in UNOC 3 would ensure that South Africa and Africa was represented in the global ocean conversation.

“We fostered significant partnerships there and made our voice heard in debates on small scale fishing, aquaculture, marine spatial planning, ocean pollution and more,” she said adding that, although the country had been visible at the conference, more needs to be done to foster inter-departmental collaboration in South Africa.

Collaboration is key

“Today is an opportunity to honestly reflect on where we must improve and look ahead to the next stage in ocean work as well as what we must prioritise in order to break down those silos,” she told participants at the roundtable.

Recognising the significant contingent of South Africans present at UNOC 3, there was some concern expressed that the country did not present a cohesive block that showed up as a South African delegation with a defined purpose and a united mission.

This idea of pursuing a more collaborative approach to determining the sustainable growth of the blue economy in a way that provides a space for all the many voices was emphasised during the morning. Understanding the disparity of needs, access to funding and recognition of knowledge needs to be realistically set against the country’s capacity to respond to local as well as international trends and sensitivities.

While, it is clear from many of the contributors to the discussion, that there is a strong desire to work together, collaborative efforts are sometimes thwarted by the availability of resources or even a simple lack of awareness of what is already being done as well as where the conversations are being held.

Many raised the point of listening more closely to the voices of coastal communities that are directly impacted by the development of ocean-based industries – highlighting the need to communicate with valid representatives in a way that fosters a true understanding of the situation.   

It was also clear that much good work is already being undertaken by NGOs as well as academics in the space. Some believe, however, that this work is not as visible as it could be leading to duplication and even frustration that progress is not being made.

PHOTO: Timothy Walker (Institute for Security Studies), Ghoussé Gaffar (Embassy of France) and Radia Razack, Acting Deputy Director-General: Oceans and Coasts at the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. (© Maritime Review Africa)

Navy aims to strengthen women in leadership