The ministers of the member states of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) responsible for ocean affairs approved today, following a meeting, the Strategic Cooperation Plan for the Ocean (2026-2030).
After the IV Extraordinary Meeting of CPLP Ministers of Maritime Affairs, which took place at the headquarters in Lisbon and also online, the officials approved the plan “by consensus,” which aims to strengthen maritime cooperation among member states in the coming years, explained East Timor’s Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Forests, Marcos da Cruz, who chaired the meeting during the closing session.
According to the minister, the strategic plan will strengthen ocean governance, promote a “sustainable blue economy,” and encourage scientific research, innovation, and knowledge transfer. It will also reinforce the protection and conservation of marine ecosystems, develop technical and human capacities, and deepen institutional cooperation among the countries of the community.
“During this meeting, we had the opportunity to reflect on the challenges and opportunities that the ocean presents to our countries, as well as on the collective responsibility we share in promoting a sustainable governance of marine resources,” noted the East Timorese official.
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On the other hand, he reinforced that in a global context marked by the challenges of climate change, environmental degradation, and growing pressure on marine resources, this plan also represents a renewed commitment to sustainable development, food security, the resilience of coastal communities, and the responsible use of marine resources.
“More than just a space for debate, this meeting confirmed that the CPLP continues to assert itself as a privileged platform for political concertation and technical cooperation, capable of transforming common visions into concrete commitments and effective actions,” added Marcos da Cruz.
The Portuguese Minister of Agriculture and Sea, José Manuel Ferreira Fernandes, told Lusa after the plan was approved that it possesses several pillars, including—in addition to the aforementioned sustainability—maritime security, surveillance and protection, and also literacy.
“I would say there is a cooperation here for the oceans that unite us so that, in essence, we can also take advantage of what our exclusive economic zones are—with Brazil and Portugal having some of the largest exclusive economic zones—which strengthen our presence and our strength on a global scale, associated with the language,” stated the minister, who also highlighted the importance of this agreement, approved precisely on World Oceans Day.
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When questioned about whether the El Niño phenomenon was mentioned during the discussion, the Portuguese official replied “no,” but explained that the creation of national committees under the UN’s Decade of Oceans (2021-2030) initiative was requested.
According to the minister, these committees already exist in Portugal, Brazil, and Cape Verde, but the goal is to establish greater cooperation and a wider shared network of knowledge. The CPLP, which marks its 30th anniversary on July 17, is composed of Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, and East Timor, with the latter currently holding the rotating presidency of the organization.
