GCC Boosts Marine Defences
TDT | Manama
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has renewed its collective pledge to defend the Arabian Gulf's fragile marine ecosystem, launching a call for stronger regional collaboration and investment in ocean-safe technologies.
Speaking at the Third United Nations Ocean and Climate Conference in Nice, France, GCC Secretary-General Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi said the region is pushing forward with joint efforts to curb marine pollution, protect biodiversity, and implement Sustainable Development Goal 14, which focuses on life below water.
Strategic waters
Surrounded by three major bodies of water, GCC countries occupy a strategic maritime corridor.
Yet, Al-Budaiwi noted, the Arabian Gulf faces intense environmental stress.
As a semi-enclosed sea, it is highly sensitive to pollution, climate-driven changes, and marine degradation.
'This ocean represents a very important natural resource for our countries,' Al-Budaiwi said, citing coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, and fisheries as vital to food security, cultural heritage, and economic growth.
He highlighted the Gulf 's global significance, noting that over 40,000 ships, including key oil tankers, pass through its waters every year — making maritime protection critical to both the region and the world economy.
Al-Budaiwi pointed to a growing portfolio of collective initiatives among GCC countries: creating marine protected areas, enforcing sustainable fisheries practices, and combatting marine pollution.
He emphasised that the GCC is also integrating marine research, data-sharing, and early warning systems as part of a joint response to ocean and climate threats.
'Gulf countries recognise that ocean health does not respect borders,' he said, stressing the need for regional coordination to defend marine ecosystems from rising temperatures, acidification, habitat loss, and industrial pressures.
Global engagement
The UN conference, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica and held under the patronage of French President Emmanuel Macron, brought together global leaders, environmental experts, and senior officials.
Al-Budaiwi used the platform to underline the GCC's openness to international partnerships that help protect oceans for future generations.
He reaffirmed the Council's full commitment to advancing SDG 14 through innovation, cooperation, and long-term sustainability planning.
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