The Blue Economy–Cultural Livelihood–Ecosystem Conservation Triangle: The African Experience

Okafor‐Yarwood, Ifesinachi; Kadagi, Nelly Isigi; Miranda, Nelson A.F.; Uku, Jacqueline; Elegbede, Isa; Adewumi, Ibukun Jacob

doi:10.3389/fmars.2020.00586

Cited by 94 publications

(77 citation statements)

References 111 publications

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“…This is of significant concern, particularly as the cumulative effects of multiple noise and ship related stressors remain largely unassessed for the region. WIO states are accelerating plans to diversify marine economies (particularly trade) in keeping with the development of the regional "Blue Economy" (Llewellyn et al, 2016;Okafor-Yarwood et al, 2020). In 2016, there were 13 commercial ports in the WIO region (Celliers and Jackson, 2016) and currently several others are planned, under construction or being expanded (Humphreys et al, 2019).…”

Section: Conservation Issuesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cetacean Research and Citizen Science in Kenya

et al. 2021

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In 2011, several non-governmental and government agencies established the Kenya Marine Mammal Network (KMMN) to provide a platform for the consistent collection of data on marine mammals along the Kenyan coast, identify areas of importance and engage marine users and the general public in marine mammal conservation. Prior to the KMMN, relatively little was known about marine mammals in Kenya, limiting conservation strategies. The KMMN collects data nationwide through dedicated surveys, opportunistic sightings and participative citizen science, currently involving more than 100 contributors. This paper reviews data on sightings and strandings for small cetaceans in Kenya collated by the KMMN. From 2011 to 2019, 792 records of 11 species of small cetaceans were documented. The most frequently reported inshore species were the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin and Indian Ocean humpback dolphin. Offshore species, included killer whales, short-finned pilot whale and long-snouted spinner dolphin. Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, long-snouted spinner dolphins, striped dolphins and Risso’s dolphins were recorded through stranding reports. The efforts of the KMMN were disseminated through international meetings (International Whaling Commission, World Marine Mammal Conference), national status reports, outreach and social media. Data has also supported the identification of three IUCN Important Marine Mammal Areas and one Area of Interest in Kenya. Further research is needed to improve estimates of cetacean abundance and distribution, particularly in unstudied coastal areas, and to assess the extent of anthropogenic threats associated with fisheries, coastal and port development, seismic exercises and unregulated tourism. The expansion of the network should benefit from the participation of remote coastal fishing communities, government research agencies, tourism and seismic operations, among others. The KMMN demonstrated the value of dedicated and citizen science data to enhance marine mammal conservation strategies to boost awareness and eco-tourism and to bring the public and science closer together, promoting research and effective conservation efforts.

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Section: Conservation Issuesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cetacean Research and Citizen Science in Kenya

et al. 2021

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“…It is clear, though, that this ideal is frequently not being met and the economic returns of the blue economy do not always benefit local people and when they do, the benefits are frequently inequitably distributed (Bennett, 2018). Three case‐studies from the Pacific Ocean showed failures to achieve integration across stakeholders and to address problems related to power, the agencies involved and gender (Keen et al., 2018) while a review of examples from Africa found that blue economy activities tended to favour economic benefits over environmental sustainability and to exclude local communities (Okafor‐Yarwood et al., 2020). There are also cases where the costs of economic development, for example in the form of wastes and pollution, are born disproportionately by local communities (Bennett, 2018).…”

Section: Developments In Policy and Practices Since 2000mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The failure to consider and address the benefits and costs for local communities is widely considered to be linked to failures to engage and work with communities in implementation of the blue economy, and also failures to consider gender equity (Bennett, 2018; Jones et al., 2016; Okafor‐Yarwood et al., 2020). Bennett (2018) reports on concerns about increasing capitalization, privatization and enclosure of ocean areas and resources under the name of the blue economy.…”

Section: Developments In Policy and Practices Since 2000mentioning

confidence: 99%

Reconciling sustainability, economic efficiency and equity in marine fisheries: Has there been progress in the last 20 years?

Cochrane

2020

Fish and Fisheries

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This paper reviews the progress made over the last 20 years in achieving sustainable, economically efficient and socially just marine fisheries, referred to here as reconciled fisheries. It examines the substantial changes that have occurred in policies, practices and the challenges to fisheries. These include greater awareness of the impacts of climate change, implementation of ecosystem approaches, recognition of the needs and role of small‐scale fisheries, greater demands for fish and seafood and greater pressure from other sectors. Progress has been made in some countries and fisheries in improving sustainability and economic efficiency but much less in many others. Globally, substantial problems remain in the status of stocks, threats to biodiversity, incidence of undesirable ecological impacts, economic inefficiencies, and poverty, food insecurity and marginalization of fishers and other dependents on fisheries, particularly small‐scale fishers. Effectiveness of management and governance is linked to the development status of countries, so the challenges are most marked in developing countries but developed countries are also failing, particularly in achievement of socially equitable fisheries, while also transferring some of their problems to developing countries. The paper argues that reconciled fisheries will only be attainable in conjunction with meeting human development needs as a whole, which are reflected in the 17 United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs). This requires that the global commitment to address the SDGs as being “integrated and indivisible” and in “a spirit of global solidarity” needs to be taken much more seriously than it currently appears to be.

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“…mangroves, salt marshes, lagoons, and estuaries), fisheries, tourism, settlements, transport, and industries (e.g. oil, and gas) [ 2 , 11 , 23 , 29 ]. Thirteen of the sixteen West African nations have coastline, and the West African coastline stretches 3480 miles from Mauritania to Nigeria (Fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhancing Satellite Oceanography-Driven Research in West Africa: a Case Study of Capacity Development in an Underserved Region

Nyadjro

Arbic

Buckingham

et al. 2021

Remote Sens Earth Syst Sci

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Marine business and resources play a major role in the economics and way of life in coastal West African countries. Such countries see great profitability from their marine resources while also facing challenges that come with a bordering sea. Despite this fact, there has been limited research into the optimal way for West African Coastal States to coexist with, and sustainably use their marine resources, a research deficit that is mainly due to a lack of infrastructure for in-situ work, lack of capacity development, and comprehensive datasets to undertake oceanographic research. The Coastal Ocean Environment Summer School in Ghana (COESSING; www.coessing.org ) was developed to help meet some of these challenges. Each summer since 2015, ocean scientists (e.g., biologists, chemists, physicists, hydrologists) from the USA and Europe have collaborated with West African colleagues to lead a week-long intensive summer school in Accra, Ghana, alternating in location between the Regional Maritime University and the University of Ghana. The school receives in excess of 100 participants drawn from universities, government agencies, and the private sector organizations, mainly from Ghana and neighboring Liberia, Nigeria, Togo, and Benin, among others. The format of the school includes morning lectures, afternoon field trips, and hands-on laboratory exercises and one-on-one coaching of students. Important to the COESSING program is the satellite oceanography component which introduces participants to the extensive and often free, remotely sensed oceanographic datasets. Participants develop skills that allow them to access, process, and analyze these datasets in order to better understand regional oceanographic phenomena, such as upwelling, pollution, habitat characterization, sea level rise, and coastal erosion. Following the school, facilitators keep in touch with program participants, helping them acquire and analyze data for their studies, dissertations, and often graduate school applications, etc. In summary, schools such as COESSING are critical not only for science in the region but for the global ocean community as such training develops eager, bright minds while leading to improved regional observing and modeling strategies in severely under-sampled seas. Here, we describe a unique case in which satellite oceanography has led to such outcomes for countries bordering the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.

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The Blue Economy–Cultural Livelihood–Ecosystem Conservation Triangle: The African Experience

Cited by 94 publications

References 111 publications

Cetacean Research and Citizen Science in Kenya

Cetacean Research and Citizen Science in Kenya

Reconciling sustainability, economic efficiency and equity in marine fisheries: Has there been progress in the last 20 years?

Enhancing Satellite Oceanography-Driven Research in West Africa: a Case Study of Capacity Development in an Underserved Region

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