Africa's Ocean Future in Peril: A Call to Action Against Empty Promises

Growing up, the ambition to work underwater as a marine conservationist was paramount, yet it was not until a first job in Mombasa, waiting under baobab trees for fishers to return and measuring their catch, that the true, expansive nature of the ocean became apparent. Beyond its depths, the ocean profoundly shapes the daily rhythms, livelihoods, culture, and intergenerational connections of people along Kenya's coastline and, indeed, across Africa. For millions, the ocean is not an abstract environmental concern but an intrinsic way of life.

A historic moment for this perspective approaches in June, as Kenya prepares to host the 11th annual Our Ocean Conference, marking the first time this significant gathering will occur on African soil. This event presents a crucial opportunity to fundamentally reshape global perceptions of the ocean. While many global leaders continue to relegate ocean issues as secondary to concerns like energy, security, or economic growth, across Africa, the health of marine ecosystems is inextricably linked to food security, public health, and economic stability.

At the very heart of this profound connection lies fish. Fish constitute one of the most vital, yet frequently overlooked, pillars of African food systems. In certain countries, they supply more than half of all animal protein consumed, and beyond protein, they are a critical source of essential micronutrients and fatty acids, indispensable for healthy development, particularly for women and children. A significant portion of this vital food supply does not originate from industrial fleets but from the dedicated work of artisanal fishers, traders, and processors. Their efforts sustain millions of households, invigorate local economies, and nourish coastal communities through robust local markets.

Despite their undeniable importance, fish and the communities dependent on them are too often conspicuously absent from global discussions concerning food security, trade, and development. The loss of access to local fish has dire consequences, deepening both nutritional and economic vulnerability and leading to the displacement of traditional, healthy diets by unhealthy, cheap imported alternatives.

Across the continent, African marine ecosystems are under unprecedented strain from pervasive overfishing, escalating pollution, and the accelerating impacts of climate change. Over years of research trips, a consistent refrain echoes from one coastline to another: fishing has become more perilous, and fish stocks are increasingly scarce and expensive. This is not merely an environmental challenge; it has rapidly evolved into a pressing food security crisis. Projections indicate that over 10% of the global population could face deficiencies in key nutrients and fatty acids as access to marine fish diminishes in the coming decades, with potentially devastating consequences for vulnerable coastal communities.

Crucially, this escalating crisis is not primarily driven by the artisanal fisher casting a net at dawn. Instead, the overwhelming pressure comes from industrial fishing fleets, many of which are foreign-owned. These fleets extract enormous quantities of fish from African waters with disturbingly little transparency or accountability. Far too often, the valuable catch is exported abroad, processed into animal feed or supplements, or sold to affluent consumers far removed from the communities where the fish were initially caught. The sentiment that "taking our fish is taking our future" resonates deeply; an equitable blue economy cannot exist if coastal communities are priced out of consuming fish from their own waters.

However, a different path remains achievable. As the Our Ocean Conference convenes in Mombasa, African nations possess a significant opportunity to lead by centering ocean policy on food security, justice, and the sustenance of local livelihoods. This leadership must be rooted in genuine partnership. Governments are urged to collaborate directly with artisanal fishers, traders, and processors, recognizing their invaluable knowledge and experience as essential for effective fisheries management. These communities, whose futures are directly shaped by these decisions, cannot be treated as an afterthought.

Furthermore, countries should prioritize expanding and rigorously enforcing inshore exclusion zones. These designated coastal areas, where industrial and destructive fishing practices are strictly prohibited, have demonstrated significant success in increasing catches for artisanal fisheries while simultaneously aiding in the recovery of fish populations and strengthening local food systems. Finally, there is an urgent need for enhanced transparency and accountability. Governments cannot effectively manage what remains unseen. Robust monitoring of industrial fleets—including their activities and ownership—coupled with improved access to crucial fisheries data and meaningful enforcement mechanisms, is absolutely essential for protecting marine resources and the people who depend on them. Compliance, therefore, is not optional; without it, even the most well-intentioned policies are destined to fail.

The ocean, despite its current challenges, possesses remarkable resilience. Given the chance, fish populations can recover, coastal ecosystems can rebound, and livelihoods can be restored. For too long, the prevailing global narrative has framed ocean conservation and food security as competing priorities, falsely suggesting that protecting ecosystems necessitates sacrificing human needs. In reality, the inverse is true: safeguarding the ocean is fundamental to feeding people, sustaining livelihoods, and ensuring a healthier, more secure future for all.

What transpires in Mombasa holds immense significance. This conference must transcend being merely another forum for speeches and unfulfilled promises. It must serve as a decisive turning point, where African leadership takes the helm in constructing an ocean economy that not only protects marine life but also champions the communities whose very futures are intricately tied to its health. As intellectual giants like Ngugi, Mbembe, and Achebe have advocated, it is indeed time for the world's narratives to be told from an African perspective.