- « In Bizerte, faced with the degradation of marine ecosystems, decision-makers and experts are committed to an exemplary Mediterranean by 2030. »
La Femme (Forum Mondial de la Mer) – The 4th edition of the Forum Mondial de la Mer; produced by La Saison Bleue, was held the 24th and 25th September in Bizerte, Tunisia.
This edition was a great success with more than 18,000 people connected and 400 face-to-face participants. The only international event dedicated to the maritime issues in the South of the Mediterranean, the World Forum of the Sea-Bizerte is thus, year after year, the place of all expressions, for both the countries bordering the Mediterranean and the African continent of which Bizerte is the northernmost point.
Following the example of previous sessions, the 4th edition of the World Forum of the Sea-Bizerte was chaired by Pascal LAMY, bearer of the Starfish Mission to the European Commission.
The 2021 Forum brought together, during two days of exchanges and meetings with the general public, a group of experts and high-level stakeholders, of politicians and emblematic figures in the field of the environment such as H.S.H the Prince ALBERT II of Monaco, Annick GIRARDIN, Minister of the Sea (France), Ricardo SERRAO SANTOS, Minister of the Sea (Portugal), and Nasser KAMEL, Secretary-General of the Union for the Mediterranean, Françoise GAILL, oceanographer …
Several Tunisian ministers actively participated in the forum, such as Habib AMMAR, Minister of Tourism and Crafts, Kamel DOUKH, Minister of Local Affairs and Environment, Asma SHIRI LAABIDI, Secretary General of Maritime Affairs…
This edition was also the occasion to present the winner of the Amwej project as well as the program «Ghodwa, jeunesse et environnement».
Moreover, for three days, the Old Port of Bizerte was animated by festivities, organized by the municipality of Bizerte, a collective of local associations as well as by Envirofest.
Taking up the recommendations of the Plan for an exemplary Mediterranean in 2030, Pascal LAMY, President, said at the conclusion of the Forum: “Bizerte is facing a growing and very worrying degradation of the marine ecosystems of the Mediterranean, we ask national and regional policy makers, international bodies and all actors of the sustainable blue economy to take swift and consistent measures on the protection of biodiversity to the tune of 30% of the maritime space by 2030, of which 10% in strong protection, the development of marine areas protected, the fight against plastic pollution and overfishing, as well as the blueing and decarbonization of maritime transport.”
Rym BENZINA, President of La Saison Bleue, concluded the debates: “In four editions, Le Forum Mondial de la Mer – Bizerte has mobilized not only the civil society and the most renowned scientists but also the elected representatives of the Mediterranean coast. This is the whole point of the launch during the 2021 edition of the initiative of the PARLIAMENT OF THE SEA which sets itself the objective of bringing together a hundred elected officials from the twenty countries sharing the Mediterranean for a sharing of experiences and solutions”.
The 5th edition of the Mer-Bizerte World Forum will take place at the end of September 2022.
To re live this edition, you can find the replay on the website: http://forumdelamerbizerte.com/
Contact: amal.yahyaoui@lasaisonbleue.com
