Kenya has taken great strides towards optimizing its rich Blue Economy.
The 600 kilometres coastline is a source of food, employment and commerce; it is an embodiment of the rich coastal culture tinged with a heartwarming humanity history. Currently Kenya’s fisheries sector supports more than 300,000 Kenyans directly and millions indirectly.
Kenya’s ocean economy extends beyond fisheries to encompass maritime transport, tourism, offshore energy, biotechnology, and coastal infrastructure. If developed sustainably, it could become a key pillar of national economic growth and job creation.
In 2016, Kenya expanded the Fisheries Management and Development Act, to incorporate the Blue Economy concept.
Two years later, Kenya, Canada and Japan co-hosted the first global Sustainable Blue Economy Conference in 2018 in Nairobi, during which the need for enhanced multi-disciplinary and transboundary research, and collaborations was discussed as a critical ingredient to the growth of the global fisheries sector.
Kenya has taken the next step by integrating the recommendations thereof; in its Blue Economy and Fisheries Strategic Plan 2023-2027. Kenya is investing in the Blue Economy through development of fisheries resources and utilization. Collaboration with likeminded institutions and players is crucial in the attainment of these gaols.
The Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF) has helped restore balance, but scaling up these efforts through collaborations is critical.
Another important aspect is the need to invest in local marine research, improved data collection, and strengthening the capacity of staff in the blue economy space, researchers in scientific institutions, recognizing that the health of our ocean goes hand in hand with the well-being of our people.
The arrival of a Norwegian research vessel – the Dr. Fridtjof Nansen – a platform for conducting marine science, equipped with cutting-edge technology and a crew of international researchers, the vessel is an overt fruit of the longstanding collaboration between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Norway and the Government of Kenya through the EAF-Nansen Programme.
Since its inception in 1975, this programme has collaborated with 58 countries across Africa, Asia, Central and South America. This ship will, support Kenya in making policy decisions that are based on scientific evidence to manage her marine resources effectively.
As this vessel docks in Kenya’s waters, it arrives at an apt moment when Kenya has aligned its Blue Economy and Fisheries Strategic Plan with the global trajectory guided by in-depth marine research.
Today we are not only reflecting on how far the EAF has come, but also at evidence-based solutions to the new challenges that Kenya and the world faces in sustaining our marine ecosystems. We operationalize the approach that recognizes science as our anchor for successful navigation through these contemporary challenges.
With over 400 surveys across the globe, conducted through its research vessel, the programme has gathered data on fish stocks, ocean health, and the impact of climate change. This information is helping countries develop policies that empower them manage their resources effectively and equitably.
I applaud President William Ruto for showing global leadership as a member of the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy. His leadership is a solid foundation, and the presence of the Dr. Fridtjof Nansen in Mombasa’s harbour reminds us of what’s possible when science and political will converge.
Fifty years of collaboration have built the foundations. The next chapter is ours to write. With bold investment, community leadership, and unwavering commitment to sustainability, Kenya can build an ocean economy that nourishes, sustains, and empowers, for generations to come.
(Dr. Nyabenyi Tipo is the FAO Kenya Country Representative ad interim)
