In reference to the arrival of the One Ocean Expedition research sailing vessel in Mozambique, the Norwegian Embassy, in coordination with the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) and the Oceanographic Institute of Mozambique (InOM), inaugurated this Thursday, 15 December 2022, at the Fisheries Museum in the City of Maputo, a marine exhibition under the theme “The Ocean That Unites Us”.

The exhibition aims to highlight Mozambique’s marine biodiversity, showcase its importance and the need for its conservation, and promote reflection on the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030), which emphasises the need to use science for the ocean we want.

BIOFUND played a crucial role in the materialisation of the “The Ocean That Unites Us” project, contributing many of the exhibition materials, including informative panels on marine biodiversity and photographs of different marine species and habitats. BIOFUND’s exhibition content forms an integral part of the biodiversity exhibitions and fairs that the Foundation has brought to the public in various forms since 2015, across several provinces, through diverse partnerships.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the Minister of the Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries, Lídia Cardoso, highlighted the importance of the exhibition for the preservation of marine resources and praised the engagement of the partners in bringing the project to life. “We welcome the exhibition ‘The Ocean That Unites Us’, a platform which, through various informative images, shows us the challenges in conserving marine ecosystems. This exhibition must serve to raise awareness among young people about good marine practices; it is a true lesson on the ocean that evokes sustainability in the use of marine resources. We thank the exhibitors present here, namely BIOFUND, InOM, Eduardo Mondlane University, WCS, Market Marine System, the National Research Fund and WIOMSA. Congratulations to all, and thus we declare the exhibition ‘The Ocean That Unites Us’ inaugurated.”

The inauguration ceremony was attended by the Minister of the Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway, the Director General of InOM, the Executive Director of BIOFUND, the UNESCO representative, among other notable figures. This marine exhibition is open to the public until 03 January 2023 at the Fisheries Museum — visit it!