Kenya - Field research on blue economy

As part of growing interest in the development of sustainable blue economy sectors in the Western Indian Ocean region in October of 2023, members of our COFAD team traveled to Kenya. The reason of this research trip was to familiarize COFAD with the local status of blue economy initiatives and to meet key stakeholders on location. Themes of particular interest to the research team focused primarily on coastal ecosystem-based management, fisheries, seaweed farming and aquaculture as well as watershed management and marine spatial planning. In order to assess activities both inland where Lake Victoria and its river systems play key roles from disaster risk mitigation to environmental management and regional development as well as the diverse coastal activities, COFAD’s work crossed the country from the interior surrounding Nairobi to the coast of the Indian Ocean at Mombasa. The work included meetings with relevant ministries, key stakeholders, leaders and experts where much was learned on the unique opportunities and challenges that are present for Kenya as they continue to realize their vision of what a regional blue economy should entail. We look forward to further work in this dynamic and beautiful environment.