From August 31 to September 1, the workshop on Marine Ecological Conservation and Disaster Risk Reduction, co-hosted by 21st-Century Maritime Cooperation Committee and World Association of the Major Metropolises (Metropolis), was carried out via videolink.

In the workshop, scholars from Minjiang University and specialists from Fuzhou Municipal Ocean and Fishery Administration delivered 5 lectures, concerning marine disaster prevention and reduction, marine industry development, current status of native oyster reefs and related ecological restoration approaches, marine aquaculture and sustainable development, and conservation and sustainable utilization of marine biodiversity, respectively. Speakers elaborated on targeted themes and shared with participants their experiences and practices in promoting maritime industry and preventing marine disasters.

"In recent years, we conducted an array of researches on marine creatures, ecological environments and intelligent fishery. Our researches, including the invasion of alien spices (Spartina alterniflora for instance), the monitoring of red tide and microplastics, the conservation of germplasm resource of protists, the treatment of pollution, the intelligence in breeding platform and the shipping safety management, have technologically supported the marine fishery and ecological preservation in Fuzhou.” A scholar from Minjiang University said.

Lecturers from Fuzhou Municipal Ocean and Fishery Administration indicate that in past few years, Fuzhou has strengthened its fundamental capacities, such as fishing harbor construction, forecasting and broadcasting, the organization and real-time localization of fishing boat and the building of emergency command system, in the field of maritime disaster prevention. Besides, Fuzhou has proactively prepared contingency plans, made emergency drills, and raised people’s awareness of disasters. “Fuzhou has broad space for cooperation with sister cities on fishery, harbor, tourism, and technology etc. Together with our committee members, I hope we could further deepen pragmatic collaboration and build a marine community with shared future for all parties.” A lecturer said.

Mr. Octavi De la Varga, Secretary General of Metropolis, pointed out that “Marine Ecological Conservation and Disaster Risk Reduction” is a crucial topic for all members and that it is imperative to seek better and shared solutions with an open mind so as to reduce the disaster risk and ensure the marine sustainability.

“21st-Century Maritime Cooperation Committee, jointly established by the UCLG ASPAC, the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Fuzhou Municipal People’s Government, will continue to play an active role to deepen the communication and cooperation among its committee members in marine conservation, and thus promote the marine economic sustainability”, said Dr. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi, Secretary-General of the UCLG ASPAC.

A senior official from the Foreign Affairs Office of Fuzhou Municipal People's Government said that this workshop is significant to the deeper communication and cooperation among members and the stronger influence and cohesion of the Committee. The Committee will take this activity as an opportunity to further build the mechanisms of effective dialogue and coordination, construct the significant communicative platform for the “Belt & Road” marine cooperation, concentrate resources of coastal cities and local governments in the Asian-Pacific and the world at large, in order to deepen the exchanges and cooperation in fields of marine economy, marine conservation and disaster prevention and mitigation among coastal cities or organizations in various countries and regions.

“It is hoped that this workshop can further build consensus and promote the sense of calling and responsibility for marine ecological conservation and disaster risk reduction across all sectors of society, so that forceful measures can be taken to really improve the capacity in disaster prevention and mitigation and protect the vast blue oceans,” said this senior official.