Environment
Western Indian Ocean’s Pristine Ecosystems,
Valued at US $25 Billion Annually, Under Threat
Growing Urbanization, Unsustainable Fishing and Resource Extraction among Main Pressures on Ecosystems
Growing populations and economies in the Western
Indian Ocean region are increasing risks to the world’s
least ecologically disturbed coasts, where ecosystem
services are conservatively valued at US$25 billion
annually, according to a new report by United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP) released on the 30th
Anniversary of signing of the Nairobi Convention.
Urbanization and unsustainable fishing and extraction
practices are driving the depletion of natural resources and
a decline in biodiversity in the region, affecting livelihoods,
says the Regional State of the Coast: Western Indian
Ocean.
Stretching from Somalia to South Africa, the Western
Indian Ocean coastal area is home to over 60 million
people, largely dependent on marine ecosystems for food
and jobs. The region’s ecosystems are one of the world’s
richest in terms of biodiversity, with over 2,200 species of
fish and over 350 species of corals, and provide a wealth
of goods and services to the population.
The report, launched at the 8th Conference of Parties
to the Nairobi Convention, examines the environmental
threats in the region and calls for stronger transboundary
cooperation, integrated coastal management, and a
surge in marine conservation areas to protect its pristine
ecosystems.
“From fisheries to tourism,
to energy, oceans support
approximately 350 million jobs
worldwide. When about half
of the population of African
countries along the West Indian
Ocean will live in the coastal
Dr. Achim Steiner.
zone by 2020, this region has the
capacity to drive employment and economic growth for
countries up and down and off the coast,” said said UN
Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director
Achim Steiner.
“But as coastal centres urbanize, maritime resources
are being stretched and stressed. Crustacean stocks in
the region, for example, are mostly fully exploited or
overexploited as countries endeavour to feed growing
populations.”
“The way forward is toward a healthy West Indian Ocean
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Africa Water, Sanitation & Hygiene • July - August 2015
that drives sustainable
growth along its shores,
improving human wellbeing and social equality
along the way. This is
what we term the Blue
Economy. The Blue
Economy advocates for
long-term prosperity for
coastal peoples through
the long-term plenty of
their greatest resource,”
he added.
Urbanization
Population growth and
the associated demand
for ecosystem goods
and services is one of
the main drivers of
the decline in marine
resources in the region.
The ensuing urbanization
results in lifestyle changes,
characterized by intense
resource use and waste
generation.
In 2040, the urban
population in Eastern Africa is projected to be five times
higher than it was in 2010, adding to environmental
pressures from cities, such as water quality degradation,
a decline in marine resources and biodiversity, and the
destruction of vital habitats such as mangrove forests.
Unsustainable Fishing Practices
The region’s coastal population relies heavily on fishing
for food and livelihoods.
The report estimates that
400 700 thousand people
are engaged in marine
fishing in the region, with
fish being a main protein
source for 50 per cent of
Mozambicans and tuna
contributing 95 per cent