Maritime safety and security

Abstract

The seascape surrounding sub-Saharan Africa provides opportunity for a rich blue economy to thrive. However, maritime-based criminals, such as pirates, human and drug traffickers, and illegal fishers, among others, threaten maritime security and thus achievement of regional blue economy goals. Preventing criminal threats in the maritime domain is therefore critical. As such, the aim of this chapter is to show the link between securing the maritime domain in line with the blue economy agenda. The body of this chapter tackles this aim in three sections: first, it reviews maritime crimes common to the region surrounding sub-Saharan Africa that threaten blue economy goals. Second, it critically explores global and regional responses to these regional maritime crimes aligned to blue economy agenda. Finally, it discusses corruption as a key factor that inhibits the effectiveness of responses to regional maritime security.