Large Kenyan Public still Lack Knowledge About Sustainable Blue Economy

By Mwakwaya Raymond

The Kenya public, including those living near water bodies, are yet to fully understand and embrace the sustainable blue economy concept.

Majority of the people are yet to grasp its real meaning, scope and opportunities within it hence failing to fully exploit and gain any tangible benefits out of it.

As it emerged during a training workshop involving media practitioners and host of action groups championing the blue economy, there is considerable knowledge at the policy making and institutional levels, and this information imbalance does not augur well for development and buy-in of the grassroots level.

In a layman’s language, a sustainable blue economy means a marine based economy that provides social and economic benefits for current and future generations. It also involves restoring, protecting and maintaining the biodiversity, productivity and resilience of the marine ecosystem, based on clean technologies, renewable energy, and circular material flow.

The few who have managed to use the ocean resources for their economic development have done so either with very minimal knowledge or poor technical knowhow, participants noted.

A large number of Kenyan fisherfolk have scanty knowledge and knowhow on how they can fully tap any available resources within the ocean for their economic well-being.

On the other hand, their counterparts from developed countries tap into Kenyan waters with large vessels that in turn not only destroy the ecosystem, but also shut down the future of all those who rely on the ocean for their economic development and wellbeing.

As Kenya grapples with restructuring of its blueprint on a sustainable blue economy plan, there is great need to engage communities and organizations to enlighten them on its viability.

But good news is that several organisations have lately been rolling out a number of engagements between experts as well as media fraternity to inject some sense to the public, so as to be able to fully tap and benefit from the blue Economy in a more sustainable way.

They also need to learn how the same activities can be undertaken safely without jeopardizing the ecosystem, and instead sustain the biodiversity.

The fisher communities along the Coastal line who continue to earn their livelihoods in the ocean are more than willing to explore any available opportunity on a sustainable blue economy.

Tuna Fisheries Alliance of Kenya (TuFAK), and Media for Nature, were first to grab the opportunity to bring the local fisherfolk up to speed on what really is required of them in a sustainable blue Economy circle.

Becha Hadley, the TuFAK chairperson sought the intervention of the media in engaging the community to foster an integration to address both local and national concerns about ocean health in the wake of increased demands on ocean resources, marine pollution, and climate change.

According to him the media plays a pivotal role in informing and shaping the community.

Becha who is also the Executive Director for Community Action for Nature Conservation (CANCO), wants leaders to help revamp relationships, rebuild trust and recognize crucial roles in promoting the blue economy in a bid to address challenges facing the fishers along Coast and Kenya at large.

TuFAK with funding from NORAD, through the South Western Indian Ocean (SWIO) Sustainable Blue Economy Programme, was able to bring together Media Practitioners, Community conservation groups, State Agencies including Ministry of Blue Economy, Private Sector and Beach Management Units (BMUs) from Mombasa, Lamu, Kwale, Tana River and Kilifi counties to discuss sustainable Blue Economy matters.

The one day joint engagement held in Mtwapa resolved to seek experts input in sustainable blue economy as the media highlights the fisherfolk plights for the necessary government intervention.

John Kareko, A Systems Analyst and Director for NatureCom also present at the workshop emphasized the need to equip the media and journalists in particular with the right skills and experience in blue economy reporting.

He said such training helps journalists to understand concepts and the concerns of the community hence informing the community with ease in the most conducive manner for them to make informed decisions especially on sustainable Blue Economy.

“The media needs to communicate well to the public with a language best understood especially by these fishers on matters of sustainable blue economy, and therefore it’s imperative for you journalists to use well your communication skills to report effectively” he appealed.

The workshop provided an opportunity for participants to share perspectives on how to collectively defend the Ocean against destructive activities and protect the welfare of small-scale fishers, whose spaces have been shrinking over the years.

This has been due to the influx of other fishers mainly large scale commercial ones within the 12 nautical miles allocated for the small-scale/artisanal fishers, according to Elijah Ngoa, the TuFAK National Coordinator.

Mr Ngoa said Media advocacy provides an avenue for the small scale fishers to fully appreciate their role in not only conserving the marine ecosystem but also to fight for their rights by interrogating policies and laws that govern the utilization of the resources.

Media For Nature Executive Director, Mazera Ndurya called on the media to be bold and factual while highlighting several problems facing small-scale fishers who remain custodians of traditional knowledge including the fishing grounds while they face threats from pollution and climate change, industrial fishing fleets, ports expansions, and off-shore oil and gas explorations.

“We have to be alive to the fact that Blue Economy is not exclusively the ocean as most people tend to assume,” said Mazera.

He said the coast region is one region that boasts both marine and fresh water resources and as journalists it is important to understand that opportunities are found around and within all the water bodies.

“Take the case of the beautiful ox-bow lakes in Tana River, Lake Kenyatta in Lamu and other key fresh water ecosystems in Taita Taveta – Lake Chala and Lake Jipe –very unique ecologies that journalists have not taken keen interest in

“Kenya’s Blue Economy holds vast potential — from fisheries to marine tourism and port development — but must be managed responsibly and this is the information that journalists should have at their fingertips when writing about the blue economy,” said Mazera.

While commending TuFAK for organizing and sponsoring the workshop, Mazera said similar meetings should now be taken to the grassroot level to allow for closer interaction with the people on the ground.