The eighth edition of the Sea Forum, which opened Thursday evening in El Jadida, highlights crucial issues related to ocean protection and marine biodiversity, with the goal of rethinking our connection to the sea from a sustainable development perspective. Organized until May 11 under the theme «The Sea, the Future of the Earth», this Forum aims to serve as a space for exchange, reflection, and action, bringing together experts, researchers, artists, as well as representatives from institutions, NGOs, and businesses to address major environmental and maritime challenges. This edition, marked by international cooperation, honors France as the guest country, underscoring the desire to strengthen synergies to promote the sustainable management of oceans and coastlines. The opening ceremony was notably attended by the Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali, the Consul General of France in Casablanca, Pascale Trimbach, and the Governor of the province of El Jadida, Mhamed Atfaoui. During the opening session, the founder of the Forum, Mehdi Alaoui Mdaghri, emphasized the importance of making the sea a central issue in public policies, with the goal of promoting a sustainable future. For her part, the Consul General highlighted the importance of maritime spaces as resources for the economy and food security, praising Morocco's commitment to ocean protection and the «exemplary» cooperation between Paris and Rabat in this field. In a video message broadcast during the opening, Morocco's ambassador to the United States, Youssef Amrani, also emphasized the need for promoting cooperation across the Atlantic Ocean as a strategic space for an «inclusive, sovereign, and development-oriented Atlantic synergy». The Governor, for his part, recalled that this event showcased the maritime assets of the province, which boasts a 145 km coastline, 16 beaches rich in biodiversity, and the industrial port of Jorf Lasfar, a key driver of regional economic development. The Sea Forum 2025 is structured around six major themes: «Feeding and Healing, Preserving, Trading, Dialoguing, Advocating, Exploiting, and Innovating». The program includes conferences, thematic and artistic workshops, exhibitions, film screenings, as well as activities, sports events, and exploration of the marine environment.
