The 11th Conference of Contracting Parties to the Abidjan Convention (COP 11) is being convened under the theme ‘Promoting Blue Growth in Africa: Toward Sustainable Management of Marine Resources,' and will provide an opportunity for African coastal countries to lay the foundation for regional oceans governance in Africa. COP 11 will review activity during the period 2012-2013, and the 2014-2015 budget, and discuss how parties can take up “Blue Growth” as a way of sustainably managing marine and coastal resources. A seminar on blue growth with international marine experts will take place on the first day of the conference. This conference will be divided into two segments: the experts segment (17-19 March); and the ministerial segment (20-21 March). Decisions likely to be taken at the conference relate to: headquarter location for the Regional Emergency Coordination Centre for Marine Pollution; adoption of the revised text of the Abidjan Convention; and conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction. COP 11 will be preceded on 16 March by the first meeting of the Abidjan Convention's Ad Hoc Committee on Science and Technology, a body established by COP 9 to provide scientific, technical and technological advice relating to implementation of the Convention. The Conference is being organized in cooperation with the South African Department of Environmental Affairs. The Abidjan Convention covers 22 coastal countries in West, Central and Southern Africa. COPs are held every two years.  

dates: 17-21 March 2014   venue: Cape Town International Convention Centre, 1 Lower Long Street   location: Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa   contact: Abou Bamba   phone: +225 027 18781   fax: +225 22415567   e-mail: Abidjan.Convention@unep.org   www: http://cop11.abidjanconvention.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=87:media-advisory&catid=37:news&Itemid=199
 http://cop11.abidjanconvention.org