•European Union Ambassador to Kenya, Henriette Geiger said that helping Kenya and other East African states secure their maritime space is an ongoing process.
•This illicit practice not only undermines the sustainability of fish stocks but also has detrimental socio-economic consequences for local communities dependent on fishing for their livelihoods.
Image: JACKTONE LAWI
European Union will support Kenya's war on illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in the territorial waters that denies the country billions in revenue.
EU will hand Kenya at least five marine security boats and undertake capacity building for the personnel that will monitor the waters.
Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing has over the years undermines the prosperity of Kenya's coastal communities that rely on fishing for sustenance and income.
Data by the Automatic Identification System indicates that potential annual economic values associated with IUU fishing in Kenya and Tanzania stand at $10.96billion (Sh1.4trillion) and $31.32 billion (Sh4trillion) respectively.
European Union Ambassador to Kenya, Henriette Geiger said that helping Kenya and other East African states secure their maritime space is an ongoing process.
“We hope that as we merge for the Blue Invest Africa 2024 conference we can also hand over five search and rescue boats, and this is part of our security component of go blue economy to strengthen the capacity of the government to patrol and control its space,” said Geiger.
She noted that there is not only illegal fishing at the Kenyan coastline but there are other vices such as happening both in the territorial waters and further in including illegal waste dumping.
“There is a huge trade of illegal waste dumping such as toxic and nuclear wastes that is coming from all corners of the world and the final result is that it is dumped somewhere in the high seas,” added the ambassador.
According to the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute 2023 findings, Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing accounts for a substantial portion of the country's total fish catch, estimated to be as high as 30 to 40 percent.
“As Kenya we have decided to be strategic and that’s why the strategy on blue economy is key for us and the special plans we need to plan our blue space. The Indian Ocean and Lake Victoria have to be planned,” Cabinet Secretary, state department for mining, blue economy, and maritime affairs, Salim Mvurya, said.
The two were speaking ahead of the Blue Invest Africa 2024 that is set to take place on July 3 and 4, in Kwale County.
The event is supported by the Government of Kenya and funded by the European Commission Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE).
Blue Invest Africa is a business-to-business event that aims to catalyse the growth of Africa's blue economy through strategic investments in small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
This will be the second conference after the first was held in Seychelles, the business event will bring together key stakeholders from across the continent and beyond to explore opportunities for sustainable development in “blue economy” sectors such as fisheries, aquaculture, maritime transport, IT technologies, robotics, marine pollution, plastic litters, and renewable energy.
The primary goal is to attract partners willing and equipped to foster the development of these projects.
More than 600 applicants registered, out of which only 29 outstanding “blue” projects from across Africa have been handpicked for presentation to a panel of investors.
BlueInvest Africa is a business-to-business platform for actionable discussions and networking, where public and private sector leaders can forge partnerships and investments that drive tangible economic impact.
By focusing on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, the event aims to empower local entrepreneurs and communities, fostering inclusive growth and resilience in Africa's coastal regions.
"The African Blue Economy potential is ready for unlocking through investments to spur prosperity through innovation and development of market-oriented products. I encourage investors to attend the event to meet the keenly selected projects that will be presented,” said Mvurya.