Africa Blue Economy Strategy

The African continent is endowed with massive aquatic and marine resources including oceans, seas, rivers and lakes with potential for blue economy growth. The continent has 38 coastal states and a number of island states such as Cape Verde, Sao Tomé and Principe, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar and the Comoros. Among these island states are Small Island States (SIDS) that are vulnerable to climate change and extreme weather events. Collectively African coastal and island states encompass vast ocean territories of an estimated 13 million km². These water bodies and wetlands are certainly of strategic importance to the continent and provide opportunities for fisheries, aquaculture, shipping, coastal tourisms, offshore oil and gas energy mobilization and other blue economy related activities.