The National Blue Economy Strategy is in the final stages of development. The Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs will unveil it by December 2022.
This document outlines how the government and other stakeholders will sustainably exploit marine resources while protecting aquatic resources from potential threats.
Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya confirmed that Kenya boasts of huge potential in the maritime sector and blue economy that if left unregulated, the challenges would undermine the realisation of the sector’s potential.
The comments were made by the CS when he presided at the opening ceremony for the Aquatic Resources & Blue Economy Conference (ARBEC), held in Kisumu. It was attended by delegates representing 35 countries to discuss the sector’s strengths, research, and challenges.
“The government has embarked on the journey to sustainably manage 100 per cent of our aquatic resources guided by the policy framework for the promotion of the blue economy,” stated Mvurya.
He observed that there has been a significant increase in global interest in the blue economic sector over the past decade, as the sector is seen as an emerging frontier in economic development.
The introduction of the blue economy concept has presented challenges for all the players involved in the fight for aquatic resources.
“The National Blue Economy Strategy to be released soon will be very critical in bringing together all ideas which will serve as a roadmap in guiding the sector. This will control the over-exploitation of fish stock and weed out people polluting the water bodies,” assured the CS.
Mvurya stated that the guideline would assist the government in ensuring that activities related to the blue economy improve economic, social, and environmental sustainability.
Mvurya said that regulations and guidelines are vital to address the negative effects of climate change on the blue economy, and the fisheries industry.
The CS announced that Kenya had joined the high-level Ocean Decade Alliance in order to support the Indian Ocean protection by coordinating global networks and resource mobilisation.
“We have committed to promoting ocean sciences in our universities, institutes and research organisations. We will also engage scientists and knowledge holders in the ocean and aquatic policy processes, particularly marine spatial planning in developing our sustainable ocean plan,” he said.
By Robert Ojwang’
Source: kenyanews
