Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Hassan Ali Joho has called for stronger, evidence-based policies and harmonised governance frameworks to address challenges facing Africa’s fisheries and aquaculture sector.
Speaking during the opening of the continental workshop on the Evidence-Based Fisheries and Aquaculture Governance Initiative in Africa at Travellers Beach Hotel in Mombasa, Joho said the continent must adopt data-driven approaches to ensure sustainable management of aquatic resources.
The workshop was organised by the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) with support from the European Union and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), bringing together delegates from various African Union member states.
Joho noted that Africa’s Blue Economy continues to face significant challenges, including the effects of climate change and the growing threat of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, which continue to undermine livelihoods and marine ecosystems across the continent.
“As Africa seeks to navigate the challenges facing our Blue Economy, our success hinges on evidence-based decision-making and harmonised governance frameworks,” the Cabinet Secretary said.
He urged delegates attending the workshop to engage in discussions with urgency and embrace the spirit of Pan-African solidarity in developing solutions that will strengthen fisheries and aquaculture governance across the continent.
According to Joho, African countries must work collectively to refine strategies aimed at promoting sustainable exploitation of marine and inland water resources for the benefit of present and future generations.
