Thirty-two bays belonging to 17 countries, including Mozambique, have been taking part since Friday in Yeosu, South Korea, in the 17th Congress of the World's Most Beautiful Bays.

Mozambique is represented by Pemba Bay, the third largest in the world and the first in Africa.

Speaking at the opening of the event, the president of the World's Most Beautiful Bays association, Loius Thebault, quoted by Rádio Moçambique, pointed to ocean pollution as one of the challenges facing this international organization, and called for the involvement of all nations in combating the evils that disturb the balance of nature.

For the representative of the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries in South Korea, Song Myung, the event is an opportune moment to share actions between member countries aimed at protecting and conserving the coastal environment.

Representatives of some of the bays say they hope that this congress will strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation, so that the objectives set can be better achieved.

It should be remembered that the Association of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World, which includes Pemba, is made up of 43 others, located in Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America.

Mozambique, through Pemba, was admitted to the club of the world's most beautiful bays in 2009, at the congress held in Setúbal, Portugal, after submitting its application two years earlier at a similar meeting in Praia do Rosa, Santa Catarina State, Brazil.