For Mohamed Bachir Chabou, born and raised in Tangier, Morocco, the ocean isn't just a part of life — it is life. For decades, it has provided him with a livelihood, as sardines, anchovies, and mackerel fueled both his income and a vibrant blue economy in Morocco. Yet, with declining fish stocks, his earnings have taken a hit. Despite the many challenges, Mohamed's connection to the ocean remains unshakable, a testament to the enduring bond between coastal communities and the sea.
Morocco's coast hosts two-thirds of the population, accounting for 59% of the GDP and 52% of the jobs. In the face of climate change, the country is doubling its efforts to adapt to climate change by exploring avenues to boost its blue economy. Across the continent, the Kingdom has used its convening power to spearhead the Blue Belt Initiative, a platform where 31 member states, including 23 African countries, collaborate on sustainable solutions for the blue economy.
"We cannot develop our blue economy without uniting our efforts with all countries and, in particular, the African continent," says Abdelmalek Faraj, Director General, Morocco National Fisheries Research Institute. "We share the resources and must preserve them together. We cannot do it alone. We need a cooperation mechanism to preserve the ocean and its resources and share success stories".
The blue economy is a powerful driver for Africa's economic growth, especially in coastal nations. In 2019, the African Union estimated that the Blue Economy generated nearly US$ 300 billion for the continent and created 49 million jobs.
Blue Food – fish, seafood, and seaweed - from artisanal fishery to large-scale aquaculture, is integral to the improved nutrition and food security of millions. Globally, 3.3 million people get 20% of their animal protein from aquatic food. In Yemen, where acute malnutrition affects children under five, Blue Food offers a pathway to enhanced long-term nutrition security. By applying processing technologies to extend shelf life and reduce post-harvest losses, Blue Foods can be made accessible to communities far from the coast. Similarly, the creation of jobs in fishery, aquaculture, shipping, marine conservation, sustainable tourism, and renewable energy, known as Blue Jobs, could ensure a sustainable livelihood.
"Africa's population will reach 2.5 billion by 2025," says Paubert Mahatante, Madagascar's Minister of Fisheries and Blue Economy. "How will we address the need in terms of food and jobs? A sustainable, equitable, and responsible blue economy can make that possible and allow us to take care of our youth and women."
Africa and the Middle East are making strides, but the path to fully realizing the blue economy's potential is not without challenges.
The shared challenges
The Blue Economy presents a promising path for sustainable development in Africa. Yet, its potential is hindered by challenges such as weak control systems and widespread illegality fueling the overexploitation of fish.
Small-scale fishers face dwindling fish stocks, much of which is driven by illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing. Similarly, in the Mediterranean and Red Sea regions, overexploitation threatens marine biodiversity and the livelihoods of communities.
Rising sea levels, warming waters, and ocean acidification aggravated by climate change are degrading coastal ecosystems, pushing fish populations further away from traditional fishing zones while coastal erosion threatens homes and infrastructure. In Tunisia, Hammamet's iconic beaches exemplify the issue: erosion contributed to the loss of 24,000 square meters of beach area between 2006 and 2019, with a loss rate of up to 8 meters each year. Without strong adaptation strategies, climate change will continue to disrupt the opportunities.
Plastic Pollution from waste, untreated sewage, and agricultural runoff affects coastal waters throughout the continent. Populations in the Middle East and North Africa contribute more than 6 kilos of plastic waste per capita per year that flows into the marine spaces, compared to 5 kg in sub-Saharan Africa.
Many small-scale businesses and fishers across the continent still struggle to access financing to improve their operations and access new markets. Unlocking investment is key to creating sustainable blue jobs and building resilient coastal economies.
Opportunities for Blue Food and Blue Jobs
Despite the challenges, Africa is well-positioned to harness the blue economy for sustainable growth. Strategic planning is critical as it allows countries to make informed decisions on the best allocation of resources.
The World Bank is playing a proactive role: As one of the largest financiers of the Blue Economy, it has expanded its portfolio from US$5 billion in fiscal year 2018 to over $10 billion in fiscal year 2024. Through PROBLUE, its multi-donor trust fund, the World Bank has accelerated progress with $280 million invested in 100 countries, mostly in Africa.
Restoring fishery stocks is central to the support provided. Egypt, Africa's leader in aquaculture, has made significant strides over the past two decades, creating income and job opportunities for rural communities and reducing pressure on marine fish stocks. About 80% of the demand for fish is filled through aquaculture. The technical assistance provided by the World Bank strengthened fish health, food security, sustainable aquaculture, and resilience to climate change risk.
In Morocco, the World Bank's support focuses on developing a climate-resilient Blue Economy through the $350 million Blue Economy Program for Results. Activities include better sustainability of the fisheries sector, restoration of coastal forests, creation of marine protected areas, and creation of mariculture farms.
In Mozambique, the MaisPeixe Sustentável program under the South-West Indian Ocean Fisheries Governance and Shared Growth (SWIOFish) focused on increasing economic gains from fishing and aquaculture. Matching grants provided to individuals, families, and commercial entities truly impacted livelihoods.
"Before, I had financial difficulties and struggled to make ends meet because selling dried fish was no longer profitable." says Raquel Ernesto, a 47-year-old resident of Quelimane, Mozambique, and beneficiary of the MaisPeixe. "The freezer received from the program allowed me to sell fresh fish and ice, expand my business, and even save to build a new home."
Healthy and productive coastlines are key to the sustainable use of marine resources. The $630 million West Africa Coastal Areas Management Program (WACA) in nine countries recognizes that environmental and social systems are interconnected. The restoration of the rapidly eroding and flood-prone coastline is accompanied by efforts to support communities, especially women, to better adapt to their changing environments.
Tourism has long been a critical part of the economies of coastal nations like Tunisia, where beach tourism contributes 13% to the GDP and employs two million people. A sustained partnership with the World Bank since 2020, supports a shift towards sustainable and climate-resilient coastal tourism and creates Blue Jobs while preserving marine ecosystems.
Given the transboundary nature of marine resources, the World Bank's approach prioritizes regional cooperation and integration as essential for the success of the blue economy.
The Program on Sustainable Fishery Development in Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, the first in the region, offers a platform for countries to collectively identify solutions to sustainable fishery management and improved food security. A partnership with the Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (PERSGA) helped establish protocols and foster stronger regional cooperation.
As West African countries restore their coastal environments, working in isolation does not work because natural geomorphological processes go beyond national borders. The WACA Program helped restore 41 km of coastline in the Togo-Benin border. As a result, 167,000 people are now protected from erosion and flooding.
The Path Forward
From the Atlantic coast to the Mediterranean shores, the blue economy offers a path toward sustainable development, food security, and job creation. For coastal communities, the ocean is a lifeline. By investing in sustainable practices, protecting marine ecosystems, and fostering innovation, Africa can strengthen the resilience of the ocean and the livelihoods depending on it. The future of these coastal regions depends on the responsible stewardship of one of their most valuable resources: the ocean.
"The continent's discovery was made by sea and river routes," says Georges Mba-Asseko, Head of the Blue Economy Division, African Union. "But unfortunately, we have forgotten that these were the entry points to develop our economies. We must return to this potential that the oceans offer us to develop the continent".
