Veep Koung Tells African Leaders At Ocean Summit
Monrovia, Liberia – Vice President of Liberia Jeremiah Kpan Koung has discussed the value of the ocean in Africa, saying it is the continent’s legacy. Speaking at the “Africa for the Ocean Summit” in Nice, France on Monday, June 9, 2025, Veep Joung remarked, “Remember that the ocean is Africa’s legacy, and our shared responsibility is essential to its future.”
In order to guarantee that the ocean would continue to support life, dignity, and prosperity for future generations, he said Liberia is prepared to collaborate with all of its partners. He explained that Liberia, a nation with more than 580 kilometers of Atlantic Ocean coastline, views the ocean as an essential resource for economic growth, food security, livelihoods, and climate management.
In addition to providing refuge for species of regional and national significance, “our coastal and marine regions sustain thousands of artisanal fishermen in local communities. The increasing dangers to our ocean are a major concern for Liberia,” Veep Koung added.
VP Koung, who was speaking on behalf of Liberia at the conference, clarified that the entire basis of Liberia blue economy is under danger due to overfishing, pollution, habitat loss, and the effects of climate change, such as sea level rise and coastline erosion.
According to the Vice President, Liberia has made decisive steps to safeguard the maritime environment. “To combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, we have developed a National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy and implemented a fisheries monitoring and surveillance program.”
The vice president of Liberia also informed the audience that the nation is using community-based methods to enhance local coastal governance and increase the size of marine protected areas, but that Liberia cannot accomplish these goals on its own. The problems we confront are genuine, and the ocean has no boundaries.
He encouraged greater regional collaboration through the African Coastal and Marine Strategy and the African Union’s Blue Economy Strategy.
In order to enable African coastal governments to manage the ocean resources sustainably, the vice president of Liberia also called for increased international assistance in the form of funding, technological transfer, and capacity-building. He reiterated Liberia’s shared commitment to ocean and marine ecosystem repair, preservation, and sustainable usage.
