Set an image for Media-Sharing stories

Sign In or Register

Media-Sharing stories

Research and Data
PUBLIC PROFILE

Munya, Blue Economy is humanity’s last frontier for development

Posted by Janice Scheckter on 08 December 2021 11:00 AM CAT
Janice Scheckter photo

By Eric Biegon published 8 December, 2021

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya says that Africa’s only hope in achieving food security lies in the sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources.

The Cabinet Secretary noted that, while many African Union member states and developing economies aspire to unleash the Blue Economy potential for the benefit of their citizenry, “over-exploitation of ocean resources, inadequate financial resources, weak human and technical capacities inhibits their potential to fully exploit the resources.

The Cabinet Secretary made the remarks in a speech read for him by the Chief Administrative Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture Lawrence Omuhaka at the launch of the Conserving Aquatic Biodiversity in African Blue Economy project being implemented by the African Union – InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) with funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).

Munya said that limited access to relevant technologies and innovations, insecurity, climate change as well as weak governance mechanisms among African Union member states is limiting their ability to achieve the full potential of the blue spaces in a sustainable manner.

The Cabinet Secretary said that appropriate use and conservation of marine, inland aquatic, and coastal resources can contribute to food security, create jobs ensure inclusive economic growth, and move the continent towards sustainable economic growth, as well as realize climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Munya said that the deterioration of marine ecosystems poses a threat to sustainable food security and livelihoods of societies that are heavily dependent on fishing adding that “in order to truly benefit from Blue Economy resources for generations, we must make deliberate efforts to sustain healthy Blue Economy ecosystems.”

The Cabinet Secretary warned that Africa continues to bear the biggest burden to illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, mostly perpetrated by foreign fishing fleets leading to losses of billions of dollars annually. All the above-mentioned human-led activities have led to the disruption of ecosystems and endanger aquatic biodiversity.

The Acting Director of the African Union – InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) Dr. Nick Nwankpa lauded the support offered by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) through funding of the “Conserving Aquatic Biodiversity in African Blue Economy’, a project that runs from October 2021 to October 2024.

Dr. Nwankpa said the project is important for the continent as it aims to build capacity among member states, “as well as harmonizing those capacities in order to maximize the benefits by member states in utilizing the aquatic resources sustainably,” he added.

There are no comments

Sign in to add your comment.

Recent Posts

Outcomes and recommendations of the second meeting of the platform of small island developing states (SIDS) and expert consultative training workshop on negotiation skills
African Union-Inter African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) in collaboration with African...
read more
SIDS Platform trained to negotiate in International fisheries and aquaculture fora
There has been an acknowledged need for capacity building of African Union Member States as an...
read more
Second Meeting of the Platform of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Expert Consultative Training Workshop on Negotiation Skills (15 - 17, February, 2023 In Seychelles)
AU-IBAR (the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources) is currently implementing the...
read more
World Meteorological Organization is warning that Africa is extremely vulnerable to climate change.
World Meteorological Organization is warning that Africa is extremely vulnerable to climate change....
read more
Drought situation worsening as livestock mortality continues
Drought situation worsening as livestock mortality continues By Judith Akolo The Famine...
read more
Biennial Review reports enhancing agriculture transformation and development in Africa
Biennial Review reports enhancing agriculture transformation and development in Africa By...
read more
Low fertility, over exploitation threatens survival of the donkey
Low fertility, over exploitation threatens survival of the donkey By Judith Akolo Low...
read more
Tanzania bans trade in donkey and donkey products
Tanzania bans trade in donkey and donkey products By Judith Akolo The Tanzanian government...
read more
AUC wants the donkey protected for sustainable agriculture on the continent
AUC wants the donkey protected for sustainable agriculture on the continent By Judith Akolo...
read more
Knowledge management is key to leveraging the agriculture sector in Africa
Knowledge management is key to leveraging the agriculture sector in Africa By Judith Akolo...
read more

Go to blog