Egagasini Node

#KnowyourG20 / Ocean20: A commitment to keeping our seas clean (link to https://www.enca.com/opinion/knowyourg20-ocean20-commitment-keeping-our-seas-clean), an article by SAEON’s Ocean and Polar Coordinator, Dr Tammy Morris, and the Egagasini Node’s project coordinator and science communicator, Nicole du Plessis, was published on ENCA Online on 27 October. The Ocean20 initiative aims to balance ocean use for human benefit with conservation for long-term resilience, a challenge requiring cooperation across all sectors of society.

Ocean20 South Africa brought “the ocean inland”, encouraging youth far from the coast to pursue ocean-related careers and understand their connection to ocean systems through rivers and climate. By integrating with other G20 engagement groups, Ocean20 South Africa has positioned itself to promote inclusivity and opportunity, working on a policy brief to highlight the economic role of women fishers, and creating the Early Career Ocean Network for South Africa to connect emerging marine science and maritime ocean professionals.

Ocean20 advocates structured approaches to sustainable ocean finance, aligning investment and regulation to scale blue economy initiatives. The group advocates a sustainable ocean economy, which could do much to enhance the economies of South Africa and the continent.