Fisheries and aquaculture in the western Indian Ocean states

Abstract

African coastal communities have a long history of reliance on fishing and fish farming for subsistence and economic development. Ensuring food security for growing populations is vital, as is securing livelihoods, reducing poverty and identifying development opportunities. Many African states have established strong fisheries and aquaculture sectors and have simultaneously developed governance regimes to manage them. More recently, these states have embraced the blue economy to derive further wealth from the oceans, including through expanded fishing and aquaculture activities. While there are clear opportunities, there are also risks associated with placing further pressure on already stressed marine resources and the ocean environment. This highlights the need for enhanced governance to ensure a balance between economic, environmental and sociocultural goals. This chapter explores fisheries and aquaculture governance in East Africa and the African Indian Ocean island states, in the context of the blue economy, and the broader global sustainable development agenda.