Experts: Governance gaps hindering growth of blue economy

Maritime experts have called for effective governance of ocean resources and involvement of communities for the Blue Circular Economy (BCE) to thrive.

They raised concerns over the lack of coordination in BCE governance and Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), which is critical in managing and regenerating ocean resources.

Speaking in Mombasa, the experts called for the bridging of governance gaps through Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) and the removal of sectoral silos for agencies.

In the conference titled “Harnessing the blue circular economy towards the dynamic global landscape,” it was noted that ocean governance was complex due to its vastness and hence the need for coordination and involvement of communities.

Experts also highlighted BCE threats with piracy, Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, marine pollution, climate change and cybercrime in the BCE.

BCE applies the principles of a circular economy, which involves minimising waste and pollution by keeping materials in use for activities within the broader blue economy, covering all ocean-related economic activities.

It goes beyond simply using ocean resources, aiming for a restorative and regenerative economic model that protects the marine environment while fostering sustainable growth.

Sectors that fall under the blue circular economy are fisheries and aquaculture, maritime transport, coastal tourism, marine renewable energy, and marine biotechnology.

All have a focus on sustainable and regenerative practices to reduce waste and pollution. Others are coastal infrastructure, port activities, shipbuilding and repair, desalination, and marine pollution control.

Kenya’s special envoy and presidential advisor for maritime and blue economy, Nancy Karigithu, stated that ocean governance and policy are the bedrock for BCE and hence a shared responsibility.

She argued that the ocean is not owned by any single person or nation, making governance complex, adding that 60 per cent of the ocean lies outside national jurisdictions.

To bridge the policy gaps in Kenya, Ambassador Karigithu, who is a former principal secretary for Shipping and Maritime Affairs, said there is a need to develop an integrated ocean governance framework to harmonise ocean mandates instead of maintaining silos among agencies with marine roles.

She called for the institutionalisation of Marine Spatial Planning (MSP), the modernisation of laws to cover emerging sectors like offshore energy and biotechnology, and the strengthening of coordination through a central body such as a national ocean council.

Karigithu called for empowering coastal communities as key partners in governance and leveraging blue finance mechanisms such as blue bonds and public-private partnerships to boost governance of ocean resources.

“Effective governance is critical for a successful BCE. Kenya can drive economic growth, social development and environmental protection through a BCE. Urgent action is needed to transition to a regenerative ocean economy,” she stated.

She noted that fragmentation and sectoral silos lead to limited enforcement capacity against IUU fishing or pollution and fragmented datasets – low transparency, slow learning and uneven compliance.

Karigithu said there is also a lack of integrated management of the maritime sector, and hence the need for legal and policy harmonisation.

She stated that siloed and sometimes outdated laws in sectors such as fisheries, shipping and environment conflict and do not fully reflect the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) or the circular economy aims.

Sectors that have a role in BCE are Transport and Infrastructure, Defence (Kenya Navy), Interior (Kenya Coast Guard Service), Energy and Petroleum, Mining, Industrialisation and Trade, Tourism, National Treasury, Devolution and Planning, Sports and Culture, Labour, Parliament and Attorney General.

Former Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) director general Brigadier General John Waweru called for expanded surveillance of the ocean using artificial intelligence, drones and satellites, among other technologies, to deal with threats including piracy, trafficking, IUU fishing, pollution and climate change.

Waweru urged the strengthening of inter-agency coordination, integration of climate resilience into maritime strategy and deepening of regional and international partnerships.

He said there was also a need to promote inclusive governance through communities as ‘eyes on the sea’ and foster public-private partnerships and innovation to safeguard trade, fisheries and ecosystems.

Waweru said maritime security enables safe navigation through the port of Mombasa, protects biodiversity such as mangroves, coral reefs and other marine resources and is the foundation for BCE.

According to the security expert, piracy and sporadic armed robbery attacks persist.