"The sea is the greatest resource that the country has," the statement is from the United Nations resident representative in Mozambique, Mayrta Kaulard, who also advocates a bet on science and innovation for sustainable economic development.

"The oceans are Mozambique's greatest resource and they are also a resource that, if well used, will not end," said Myrta Kaulard, quoted by Lusa, on the sidelines of the 2nd edition of the International Conference "Growing Blue", being held in Vilanculos, in the province of Inhambane, southern Mozambique.

"We cannot have industrialization without conservation and there is science, technology and opportunities to do economic development along with conservation. This should be the way because what we did in previous times was a horror," Myrta Kaulard pointed out, also admitting that these strategies need investment, especially for the communities that depend on the sea.

If, on the one hand, the ocean is an opportunity for the sustainable development of the African country, on the other, Mozambique faces a great challenge: maritime safety, in a country with 2,700 kilometers of coastline.

"We know all the challenges of the Indian Ocean, including illicit trafficking," Myrta Kaulard said, stressing that the African country needs to have "specific knowledge about sea conditions."

"Mozambique is striving to achieve sustainable development, but it is a very vulnerable country to climate change. This is a very big challenge, so the country needs support from all countries," he added.

Although with low levels of pollution, Mozambique suffers cyclically from the impact of natural disasters, which places the country among those most interested in curbing global warming, rising oceans, and the proliferation of extreme weather events.

The 2nd edition of the International Conference "Growing Blue" started on Thursday, bringing together more than 1,500 people in Vilanculos, Inhambane province, with the aim of promoting an economy based on the oceans, discussing mechanisms for the protection of biodiversity in Mozambique.