Visit to Nice: Nansen Programme 50th Anniversary

Honourable Ministers,
Excellencies,
Distinguished partners and friends,

First of all I have to say I thought it was really amazing listening to Mia. She had a wonderful voice and I enjoyed listening to her music, and especially her one verse - "We must love the ocean like the ocean has loved us". 

I would like to welcome you all on board this beautiful, 111-year-old vessel – Statsraad Lehmkuhl.

This ship is on a grand voyage lasting almost ten years, collecting data on the oceans and climate change across the globe. All of you here today are playing a small part in this important expedition.

Let me now tell you about an impressive man I met in Jamaica last November, in my capacity as UNDP Goodwill Ambassador:

Captain Michael Sterling.

He lives in Oracabessa at the Oracabessa Bay Fish Sanctuary, and has been a fisherman all his life. When he started out, there were plenty of fish in the bay. But over the years the stocks started to shrink significantly. He was finding fewer fish and more litter in his fishing gear.  

Captain Sterling and a number of local fishermen decided to join the Norwegian-funded Blue Justice Initiative and manage their fishing activities more sustainably. When I visited in November 2024, the biomass in this ocean area had increased by more than 500 % as a result of 10-12 years of sound ocean management. These dedicated fishermen had succeeded in improving the health of their ocean.

Stories like this inspire. They bring hope.

We have the knowledge, we have the means, and when we also have the will, we can really make a difference.

Today, we are here to celebrate another crucial initiative that has made a real difference:

Some 50 years ago, Norway established the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Programme together with FAO and the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research. As part of this we provided the first of what has now been three research vessels, all named Dr Fridtjof Nansen.

The programme collects and provides data to promote sustainable ocean management across borders. I look forward to learning more about the programme’s achievements today.

Ladies and gentlemen,

50 years of success is truly worth celebrating. Thanks to the EAF-Nansen Programme we now have stories of hope and progress from all over the world. Stories like the one about Captain Michael Sterling of Jamaica.

Congratulations to you all!

Thank you.