Cabo Verde Ocean Week is taking place from November 2 to 7 in Mindelo, São Vicente. The event is bringing together high-level representatives, including government ministers, regional organisations, and technical experts from across West Africa and beyond, to address key priorities in ocean governance, sustainable fisheries, the blue economy, and marine resource management.

On November 5, the AIR Centre’s Deputy Executive Director Mafalda Carapuço will speak on technological innovation for ocean monitoring as part of the conference on “Ocean and Climate: Science and Cooperation for an Innovative Future.”

The week’s programme covers multiple themes across ten main panels and several side events. Topics include ocean governance, the launch of the West Africa Sustainable Oceans Programme (WASOP), blue finance instruments, sustainable management of marine resources, and the role of the Campus do Mar in training for the maritime sector.

Key sessions address stock assessment methodologies and challenges in West African fisheries, sustainable coastal tourism, aquaculture development in Cape Verde and West Africa, and the ocean as a source of clean energy. Discussions also focus on international cooperation for the protection and fair sharing of marine resources, including the BBNJ agreement ratification process.

Representatives from the European Union, ECOWAS, the West African Development Bank, the Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission, FAO, and various national institutions are contributing to the discussions. The event includes participation from Portugal’s Minister of Agriculture and Sea, judges from the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, and technical experts from organizations including OceanX, International Council for the Exploration of the Sea – ICES, and Expertise France.

Cabo Verde Ocean Week will provide a platform for sharing experiences, best practices, and developing regional cooperation strategies for sustainable ocean management in West Africa and the Macaronesia region.