Mombasa: Kenya is taking center stage in advancing Africa’s sustainable blue economy as it hosts the 8th Session of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO Subcommittee for Africa and the Adjacent Island States. The high-level forum in Mombasa brings together representatives from numerous African nations, scientists and researchers specialized in marine and aquatic sciences, regional organizations, policymakers and government officials from African countries, and international partners to address pressing ocean-related challenges through a scientific lens.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), James Mwaluma, underscored the significance of the conference in promoting collaborative strategies to harness the potential of the ocean economy while safeguarding marine ecosystems from the escalating impacts of climate change. Speaking at Pride Inn Paradise, Shanzu, Mwaluma noted that the conference is not just about sharing ideas but about shaping Africa’s common position ahead of the global IOC Assembly in France later this year. “KMFRI is here as part of UNESCO’s Executive Council, and we are proud to host a forum that prioritizes Africa’s role in shaping the global blue economy agenda,” Mwaluma said.
Under the theme ‘Scientific Perspectives for a Sustainable Blue Economy in Africa,’ the session is addressing a wide range of issues, including the rise in sea surface temperatures, shifting fish breeding patterns, and the threat of ocean-related natural disasters such as tsunamis, particularly affecting coastal and island states. Mwaluma emphasized that while Africa faces significant climate-related vulnerabilities, it also holds immense untapped potential in marine resources. “There are proven fish stocks in offshore waters, and our research focuses on helping communities transition from overexploited inshore zones to deeper seas in a sustainable manner,” he noted.
He highlighted that a key point of the discussions is the critical need to bridge the gap between scientific research and policy. According to Mwaluma, scientific findings are often inaccessible to policymakers due to complex technical language. To address this, KMFRI and other stakeholders are working to simplify scientific data and engage decision-makers in the scientific process. “We are making deliberate efforts to include policymakers in our scientific dialogues so they can understand, appreciate, and act on the findings,” he added. “Only by working together-scientists, governments, and communities-can we craft effective, science-based policies for ocean governance,” he emphasized.
The Chairman of IOC Africa, Kouadio Affian, highlighted that IOC is the only body in the United Nations dedicated to ocean matters, including ocean observations, data processing, and modeling. “Our duty is to use scientific knowledge to prove to the people and advise them to be more kind to the ocean, because most people think that the ocean is too large and can take so much,” Affian said.
Vice Chair of IOC Africa, Suzan Elgharabawy, emphasized the need for collaboration among all member states to work on projects and programs that could help advance ocean science. She added that they are planning to set up systems to help observe all the oceans of the continent. “We cannot manage what we cannot measure, and this is a very important issue to help us come up with the action plan for the future,” Suzan noted.
The session also aims to explore avenues for increasing funding for marine research and capacity building to enhance regional preparedness and resilience. Topics such as sustainable coastal and ocean resource exploitation-including fisheries management, coastal tourism, offshore and coastal oil and gas, marine spatial planning, ocean policy and governance, renewable marine energy, and climate adaptation strategies-are also being discussed. The outcomes from the Mombasa meeting will inform Africa’s unified stance at the upcoming IOC General Assembly in France, where global ocean governance frameworks will be reviewed.