Aquaculture a key theme at Blue Economy summit

Over 4,000 participants expected at Sustainable Blue Economy Conference in Kenya that is co-hosted by Canada and Japan

By Fabian Dawson

SeaWestNews

Over 4,000 participants from around the world will come together in Kenya next month for the Sustainable Blue Economy Conference, which is being co-hosted by Canada and Japan.

The mega-conference will;

i)    identify how to harness the potential of the blue economy to create jobs and combat         poverty and hunger,

ii)   show how economic development and healthy waters go hand in hand,

iii)  capture commitments and practical actions that can be taken today, and,

iv)  bring together the players needed to transition to a blue economy

Aquaculture will be a key theme of the conference and delegates will explore how the sustainable harvest of oceans can help mitigate the effects of climate change and provide a source of nutrition for the world’s population.

Also to be discussed are government opportunities that can promote aquaculture through inclusion and empowerment of women, youth and people in vulnerable situations.

There should be deliberate and concerted efforts to increase utilization of fish supplies through promotion of sustainable aquaculture and small scale fisheries to bridge the gap of food insecurity, the conference website states.

“Currently, 70% of the globe constitutes oceans which provide only 2% of the food required – highlighting the need to find ways to increase the production and harvest of edible aquatic resources. This can be done through sustainable fisheries and enhanced aquaculture practices,” the website states.

Meanwhile, Sean Casey, Parliamentary Secretary to the Canadian Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, is in Bali, Indonesia, this week, attending the Our Ocean Conference 2018.

The oceans are a major part of the Canadian economy as they are a source of approximately 350,000 jobs, he said in a statement.

During his trip, he will be advancing key priorities from Canada’s presidency of the G7: addressing marine plastic pollution, combatting illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, increasing our ocean knowledge by expanding global observation efforts as well as sharing scientific data and supporting innovative solutions and financing to develop clean and resilient energy systems in vulnerable coastal communities.

Casey will also be driving momentum towards the Blue Economy Conference in Kenya.

For more information about the Sustainable Blue Economy Conference which will be held in Nairobi, Kenya between Nov 26 and Nov 28, please go  here.

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