Throughout history, the oceans have been used to extract natural resources, conquer new lands and trade goods. Marine biotechnology may be used to create alternative sources of energy, for instance, biofuel, can be made from microalgae, this will lead to a safer and cleaner environment and we know that an healthy system, creates a wealthy system. Various proteins, biopolymers, biomaterials, and enzymes are produced in large quantities from the marine ecosystem. In addition, the use of ziconotide, a substance derived from the venom of cone snails, is said to be an effective human painkiller. Thus, the industrial sector will benefit greatly from “blue” biotechnology i.e. cheap and readily available raw materials. The oceans have also played a crucial role in cooling the planet, making it habitable despite the accelerating pace of global carbon emissions.
More recently, the ’Blue economy’ is fast gaining more recognition and wider publicity among both developed and developing economies, globally, especially among nations with access to the oceans.
Blue Economy entails lots of activities that cut across several agencies and institutions including but not limited to ports and terminals, oil and gas, the environment, tourism, hospitality – a whole range of economic activities that are connected to what is described as the blue economy. The development of this new goldmine will spread to include more relevant government agencies and private sector stakeholders.
Blue Economy may be considered as ‘the sustainable use and conservation of marine, inland aquatic, and coastal resources for food security, job creation, and economic growth’.
The blue economy encapsulates all sea-related commercial activities.
What could undermine the realisation of Nigeria’s blue economy?
Nigeria’s blue economy remains one of the country’s emerging strong sub-sectors, with maritime trade contributing 1.6 per cent and fisheries contributing 3-5 per cent to the GDP. In the years following Nigeria’s independence, fishing was one of the major focuses of the blue economy, the country was home to many trawling companies and fishing boats. However, the government’s failure to manage and enforce a National fishing policy has been a major issue drawing the sector back despite the relevant contribution from the sector.
Several policies have been created but only very few are enforced in the country. It is not certain that the country has a working National Fisheries Policy wherein some policies that can help address the challenges facing the fishing industry are taken care of. If at all there is one, implementation and enforcement have been a twin-headed monster militating against the success of this crucial sector.
Apart from weak legal policy, regulatory and enforcement instruments, some of the factors that have contributed into the state of moribund which this vital sector currently finds itself are environmental management and local community involvement.
According to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, it is noted that the full potential of the blue economy cannot be reaped unless the issues of climate change and environmental mismanagement are addressed. Poor waste management resulting into severe environmental pollution involving unethical dumping of toxic wastes and plastics into the country’s ocean still go unabated. To be successful, Blue economy must key into the goal of sustainable development which requires that economic development is both inclusive and environmentally sound, and as such should be carried out in such a way that will not deplete the natural resources that society depends on in the long term. The need to balance the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development in relation to oceans is thus a key component of the blue economy.
Blue Economy is not new to African continent, there is the Kribi Port project in Cameroon and the Lamu Port project in Kenya.
It is seen that successful initiatives made use of the involvement of local communities and promoted the sustenance of natural ecosystems. These successfully balanced ecological, social and economic features.
According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), one of the important elements of the Blue Economy is the necessity of protecting – and restoring where needed – the existing ocean resource base that already supplies food and livelihoods to billions of people.
Nigeria’s marine waters are home to over 6,000 species of high economic value, including crustaceans, sharks, rays, fish, and marine plants and mammals.
But despite being a vital source of food and nutrition security and a major source of livelihood for vulnerable coastal regions, the industry has been grappling with a myriad of challenges, including unregulated and unregistered fishing practices as mentioned earlier and these have led to dwindling fish stocks.
It is germane that this sector (Blue Economy) puts into consideration, the artisans and small-scale fishers, who constitute a large majority of the fisheries economy in the country. Some states have been able to support small-scale fishers with boats, nets, and other tools. But as Oliver Twist will say, there is need for more coordinated support for them. They are just too big and relevant to food security to be ignored.
Dr Olujimi Dada, an Associate Professor of Environmental and Industrial Biotechnology at Department of Chemical Engineering, LAUTECH is the secretary of Esa-Oke Central Union and a Prince of Aragadagbagun Ruling House, Oke Esa Quarters, Esa Oke.