CDA Hunter Discusses Blue Economy in Marina di Gioiosa Ionica
Marina di Gioiosa Ionica, August 17
Chargé d’Affaires Rodney Hunter, invited by Marina di Gioiosa Ionica City Counselor Giuseppe (Joe) Romeo, joined Mayor Giuseppe Femia and journalist Francesco Rao to discuss fishing and the Blue Economy. CDA Hunter stressed the importance of coastal economies for activities such as tourism and recreation, shipping and transportation, commercial and recreational fishing, power generation, research, and related goods and services. In his remarks, Hunter reiterated the key role of data collection and use to ensure the best use of this precious resource for coastal communities across the globe. Hunter also highlighted threats to our oceans, from illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing to climate change, pollution, and declining biodiversity. The participants discussed the importance of a clean and healthy sea to coastal communities like Marina di Gioiosa Ionica, especially for small-scale fishing, and praised the work of the Fishery Local Action Groups (FLAGs) in Calabria. Hunter said that small-scale fishing already knows many of the ways to enhance biodiversity, maintain stocks and fishing areas, and protect the marine environment – we can all learn from their knowledge. Hunter praised the work being done by the local authorities in Marina di Gioiosa Ionica to clean up plastics from the sea front and to engage in active education of the younger generation on the importance of the sea and fishing to coastal communities.