By John Saylay Singbae II, 2025 Jim Rubin Fellow at the Environmental Law Institute and Lecturer in the Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries (DOFAS), University of Liberia
As Africa embarks on an ambitious initiative to establish itself as a global powerhouse through the Africa Agenda 2063, trade risks stemming from interconnected shocks across political, economic, energy, technological, and climate dimensions have begun to create significant challenges for achieving this vision. These and other threats highlight the pressing necessity to diversify the economies of African states, leveraging the continent's rich resources to advance inclusive and sustainable development. At the heart of the continent's response lies the fundamental foundation for tackling the climate crisis and promoting sustainable development – the African Blue Economy Strategy (ABES).
Formulated and later ratified in October 2019 by the African Union Specialized Technical Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment (STC-ARDWE), the ABES promotes the utilization of marine and aquatic resources in a manner that is both environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive. It is regarded as a strategic approach to addressing the multifaceted challenges many African states face, such as poverty, unemployment, and infrastructure development. The Strategy is firmly established upon five comprehensive thematic areas deemed essential for the advancement of the blue economy in Africa: (1) Fisheries, aquaculture, conservation, and the sustainability of aquatic ecosystems; (2) Shipping and transportation, trade, ports, maritime security, safety, and enforcement; (3) Coastal and maritime tourism, climate change, resilience, environmental considerations, and infrastructure; (4) Sustainable energy and mineral resources alongside innovative industries; and finally, (5) Policies, institutional governance, employment strategies, job creation, poverty alleviation, and innovative financing mechanisms. The five thematic areas are derived from the framework established during the Nairobi Sustainable Blue Economy Conference held in November 2018.
The possibilities inherent in this strategy are vast. Geographically, the continent holds a strategically advantageous position, situated next to several highly productive oceanic and marine environments, including the Canary Current, Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Somali Coastal Current, Agulhas Current, Benguela Current, and the Guinea Current. These aquatic ecosystems offer numerous prospects for the member states of the African Union (AU) to engage in a sustainable ocean economy. Leveraging the potential to enhance the productivity of marine environments can further job creation, bolster food and nutritional security, create wealth opportunities, and promote environmental sustainability, all contributing to the advancement of a sustainable blue economy. The African continent is also home to remarkably productive inland waters, many of them transboundary, offering significant opportunities to advance the continent’s blue economy. This strategy also serves as a calculated response to tackle the pressing issue of youth unemployment in Africa. For instance, in sectors like tourism, it is projected that the value added from coastal tourism will surpass USD 100 billion, employing 28 million people. By 2063, this figure is expected to rise to USD 138 billion in value added, with employment increasing to 35 million. In a comparable manner, prospects for employment are anticipated to increase within the areas of aquaculture and various other sectors.
What’s more, the ABES is underpinned by a robust legal framework that is in harmony with various African and international Conventions and initiatives. These include the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the 2014 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy (2050 AIMS), the 2014 Policy Framework and Reform Strategy for Fisheries and Aquaculture in Africa (PFRS), 2015 Paris Agreement; the 2015 UN Agenda 2030 (Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs), the 2016 African Charter on Maritime Security and Safety and Development in Africa (Lomé Charter), as well as the recently ratified United Nations Convention on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement).
However, it is crucial to acknowledge the current challenges that need to be confronted to promote the ABES. To begin with, it is important to establish that governance presents a significant challenge in optimizing the potential benefits of the blue economy. At present, many existing legal frameworks across the continent were developed before current climate and marine conditions, limiting their ability to address emerging challenges. African regions are experiencing significant impact from climate change, with certain regions of the continent warming at a rate that exceeds the global average. The frequency and severity of climate extremes are on the rise, resulting in average annual economic losses ranging from 2% to 5% of GDP. With the escalating challenges faced by coastal communities and marine ecosystems, including rising sea levels, ocean acidification, marine heatwaves, and extreme weather events, the sustainability of the blue economy—encompassing economic, social, and environmental dimensions—is increasingly jeopardized. There are also data and knowledge gaps that hinder the integration of climate change into domestic frameworks, ultimately affecting the potential to foster a climate-resilient blue economy.
Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IUU) activities within the coastal waters of Africa must also be addressed. IUU fishing represents an enormous obstacle to the advancement of a sustainable blue economy in Africa, adversely affecting the sustainability of fisheries, biodiversity, and governance across the continent. It is projected that Africa incurs a loss of approximately USD 11.2 billion in annual revenue due to IUU fishing activities. The ramifications and consequences of IUU fishing manifest in a disparate manner throughout the continent. For example, it is estimated that 40 percent of global illegal fishing occurs in West Africa. As a result, IUU has systematically deprived African nations of vital food resources and economic opportunities for decades.
In spite of these obstacles, there remains strong potential for the continued development of a sustainable blue economy in Africa. Through the implementation of legal reform and enhanced inter-continental coordination, sectors including eco-tourism, fisheries, mining, and shipping are poised to present greater opportunities for growth. The emergence of the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA), and the development of new trade agreements with Europe and China, will also likely enormously improve trade dynamics. The movement of goods is predicted to rise, prompting a growth in maritime and waterways transportation. Equally, the integration of climate change into the ABES will be a fundamental aspect of the Blue Economy with respect to the adaptation and mitigation strategies in carbon capture and storage. Advancements in the pursuit of low carbon economies, enhancing climate resilience, and generating economic and livelihood opportunities are intricately intertwined with Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) that propel strategies aimed at achieving the SDGs by 2030 and the African Union (AU) agenda by 2063.