Today, July 16, we commemorate the "Day of Argentine Interests in the Sea" in recognition of the important contributions made by Admiral Segundo R. Storni (1876-1954), who defined the value of the richness of our sea and its relevance for development as a national interest.
70 years after his death, Admiral Storni’s legacy continues in force in the Argentine Republic, a bicontinental country, with a marked oceanic vocation and with one of the longest maritime coastlines in the world.
To promote Argentine maritime interests, a comprehensive national maritime strategy that guarantees the peaceful, stable, safe and protected nature of the maritime environment is a priority. The National System of Maritime Protected Areas -a part of this strategy in progress- seeks to ensure development for today and the benefits of the sea for future generations.
Aware that maritime interests are a gateway to the world, the Argentine government promotes international cooperation and particularly marine scientific research in order to coordinate actions, share knowledge, complement infrastructures, and facilitate the transfer of technology and thus improve what we know about the sea, in accordance with the provisions of international law in general and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, in particular.
Our country is active on cooperation and coordination on ocean issues at the international level evidenced, for instance, in the impetus attached to the revitalization of the Zone of Peace and Cooperation of the South Atlantic, an initiative that brings together 24 coastal States of Africa and South America and a preponderant area for promoting South-South cooperation. Concurrent with this multilateral effort is the Declaration of Principles and the Plan of Action of the Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation signed in September 2023.
Likewise, Argentina participates in the preparatory activities for the Third United Nations Ocean Conference to be held in Nice in 2025, as this year we developed a Seminar on Ocean Action to exchange experiences, points of view and good practices in the maritime environment, together with experts, government representatives and civil society.
Our country also took part in the “High Level Event on Ocean Action: Immersed in Change”, held in San José, Costa Rica, together with the large and fruitful participation of international representatives focused on the comprehensive management of the maritime environment.
Finally, on June 18, the Argentine Republic became the 91st State to sign the “Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction”, which ratifies our commitment to participating in building a future that represents Argentine maritime interests, in line with Admiral Segundo Storni’s legacy.
