Media Release
Antigua and Barbuda Urges Global Action at UN Ocean Conference 2025
Nice, France — The Honourable Anthony Smith Jr., Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Lands and the Blue Economy of Antigua and Barbuda, delivered a compelling national statement today at the UN Ocean Conference 2025, emphasizing the urgent need for collective action to safeguard the world’s oceans, especially for Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
In his speech, Minister Smith highlighted the vital role that the ocean plays in Antigua and Barbuda’s economy, culture, and identity, underscoring that the health of the ocean is directly linked to the sustainability and resilience of SIDS communities worldwide.
“We call on all to uphold the commitments under the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS),” Minister Smith said. “This framework places ocean action at the core of sustainable development and charts our course toward resilient prosperity.”
Antigua and Barbuda announced its ongoing initiatives to advance ocean sustainability, including the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Oceanography and the Blue Economy at the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus. This center aims to lead research, innovation, and skills development critical for the Caribbean and SIDS to harness ocean resources responsibly.
The nation also reaffirmed its pioneering efforts in combating plastic pollution, being among the first to ban single-use plastics globally and actively participating in negotiations for a comprehensive treaty on plastic pollution that addresses the entire lifecycle of plastics.
Further, the country remains committed to sustainable fisheries, calling for strengthened enforcement, better governance, and increased support for small-scale fishers to ensure food security and coastal livelihoods.
Antigua and Barbuda welcomed the recent ratification of the BBNJ Agreement and emphasized the importance of scalable, predictable support in addressing climate change impacts rising seas, ocean acidification, and warming waters that disproportionately affect SIDS.
Concluding his remarks, Minister Smith called for genuine partnerships, increased investment, and urgent collective action, urging the international community to move from promises to tangible outcomes for a healthier, more resilient ocean.
“We don’t need charity. We need partnership. We need urgent action,” he stated. “Let this be the moment when we move from promise to delivery and from commitments to real change.
End of Release
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