Over 200 representatives from over 20 organisations working in Africa's growing blue economy sector, which includes small-scale fisheries and aquatic biodiversity conservation, met in Mombasa, Kenya from June 13-16, 2023 for a continental knowledge exchange co-organized by Ecofish, IGAD, and AU-IBAR. This ground-breaking endeavour sought to unlock Africa's full development potential through the exchange of information, the development of novel solutions, the acceptance of changing conditions, and the cooperation of all parties involved.
The potential for growth in Africa's blue economy is virtually limitless. Africa's exclusive economic territory is huge, spanning almost 13 million square kilometres, and it's teeming with marine riches, including plentiful fisheries, minerals, renewable energy, and hydrocarbon resources. The key to unleashing economic growth and generating job creation lies in the sustainable use of these resources. While speaking during the workshop, Hellen Moepi-Guebama, Fisheries Officer at AU-IBAR, eloquently emphasised, "that we are about to capture power by the horn as we have convened here to acquire knowledge" in order to manage these resources effectively."
Dr. Fatuma Adan, IGAD's Head of Mission in the Republic of Kenya, emphasised that "despite Africa's wealth of blue economy knowledge and experiences, the documentation and dissemination of regional success stories have remained limited, hindering the potential for collective progress." There has never been a better chance to close this knowledge gap than at this meeting.
Madev Balloo, European Union Project Manager, took the stage to share the collective's goals, saying, "We envision the establishment of a robust networking mechanism through this knowledge-sharing workshop, effectively propagating best practices." The long-term effects of our collective efforts are as important.
Two additional events, the Small-Scale Fisheries Working Group and the Conservation of Aquatic Biodiversity side-event, were held by AU-IBAR during the course of the conference's four days. The events were held under the FishGov2 and Conserving aquatic biodiversity in the Context of the Africa Blue Economy Project, funded by the European Union and the Swedish.
Picture: Aquatic Biodiversity side event
Picture: Some members of the Small-Scale Fisheries Working Group
Over the course of the Fair's exhibition, AU-IBAR was able to share the results of the two Projects' efforts to disseminate their respective bodies of knowledge and a documentary on “conserving aquatic biodiversity” to a wider audience. AU-IBAR staff also engaged with attendees, such as staff from the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management, with whom they discussed mutual areas of collaboration.
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