Feature story - March 28, 2013
Greenpeace Africa congratulates President Macky Sall of Senegal on having won the "Excellence in National Stewardship of the Ocean" award in the 6th Edition of the Peter Benchley Ocean Awards.
In January this year President Macky Sall was awarded the presitgious award for strong and courageous decisions he had made to preserve the nation's fisheries.
Today he will be presented with his award in the United States where US President Barack Obama will receive him. Greenpeace would like to take the opportunity to congratulate the President, and sends the following message:
Your Excellency:
Greenpeace wishes to congratulate you for your decision to ban monster boats from accessing our precious Senegalese waters last year.
Indeed, this is not only a courageous but also a critical decision particularly to ensure a sustainable future for Millions of Senegalese. Your stand on this matter will also greatly benefit the oceans.
But there is still a lot to do for fisheries governance and management in the region.
We look to you to encourage regional bodies such as Ecowas and Nepad to push West African governments to act firmly on this issue as it impacts Africans.
Our oceans need more governance and marine reserves to enable us to continue feeding the world and regulating the climate.