Mombasa: Over 1,200 scientists convened in Mombasa for the 13th Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA2025) symposium to deliberate on the future of Africa’s ocean wealth and its potential to drive economic growth and sustainability.
According to Kenya News Agency, Science, Research and Innovation Principal Secretary, Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak, emphasized the importance of integrating research, technology, and innovation to harness Africa’s ocean resources, valued at $405 billion annually. By 2030, these resources could significantly contribute to job creation, food security, and climate resilience.
During his keynote address, Prof. Abdulrazak highlighted Kenya’s initiatives, including the development of Blue Economy Science Parks, the establishment of Artificial Intelligence and digital fisheries hubs, and increasing investment in research and development from 0.8 percent to 2 percent of GDP. He also stressed the importance of expanding public-private partnerships in ports, aquaculture, and
green shipping.
Prof. Abdulrazak described the Blue Economy as a generational opportunity for Africa, suggesting that embedding science, research, innovation, and inclusion into every value chain could create millions of jobs, protect biodiversity, and strengthen food systems. He emphasized the significance of the ocean for Kenya’s past, present, and future, urging collective responsibility for its preservation.
The challenges facing Kenya and Africa were also addressed, with Prof. Abdulrazak citing losses of up to $10 billion annually due to illegal fishing, plastic pollution, and rising sea levels. He pointed out that Africa contributes less than 2 percent to global ocean science knowledge and highlighted the exclusion of women and youth from marine value chains.
Prof. Abdulrazak called for urgent action to maximize the current potential, advocating for a collaborative ecosystem involving policymakers, academia, research institutions, and the private sector to reverse negative trends.
