As human activities affecting the oceans intensify, it has become apparent just how interrelated the problems of ocean space affect the pathway towards sustainable development.
The point was made yesterday during a side-events at the S.I.D.S conference. Called “Blue Growth/Blue Economy Initiative: Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture in S.I.DS,” the event was organised by the Food & Agriculture Organization, government of The Netherlands and government of Indonesia.
It featured the Director-General of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency, James Movick, Rachel Kyte, Vice President and Special Envoy, Climate Change Group, World Bank, Ambassador Angus Friday and Dr Naoko Ishlii, CEO and
Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility (G.E.F).
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The Blue Growth Initiative (B.G.I) consists of four main components:
(i) marine and inland capture fisheries;
(ii) aquaculture;
(iii) livelihoods and foods systems; and,
(iv) economic growth from ecosystem services.
Integration was a buzz-word throughout the session, which can be especially confusing given the numerous meanings associated with the principle.
For all the idealistic intentions of the B.G.I, practical examples from the governments of Grenada, Indonesia and Seychelles to show that the B.G.I and international, regional and national cooperation is needed to fully realise the initiative.
It was the Indonesian implementation cases, which provided the most in-depth analysis to show the multiple impacts on natural coastal/marine systems in an integrated manner in working towards the coastal area management and multiple
land and sea uses in the coastal zones.
The majority of the world’s major fish stocks are fully exploited or over-exploited with the stock recovery rates often slow.
More than 58 million people, however, are directly employed in aquaculture and fisheries and 10-12 per cent of the global population is dependent on the sector.
Aquaculture development is one answer for supplementing seafood supplies. The industry is a fast profit earner and a critical sector for economic development.
As the industry moves offshore into the Exclusive Economic Zones (E.E.Z), explicit regional mechanisms are needed to promote the industry’s development as well as address its environmental effects.
The regional fora was stressed by all keynote speakers as a way to play a more effective role in coordinating international operational activities.
By agreeing on regional priorities among marine-related conventions, they can shape international initiatives, and define common regional projects that are cost-effective to support national capabilities.
Again, practical examples were given by the Dr Angus Friday, the Ambassador of Grenada to the United Sates of America and the country specific examples from Indonesia and Seychelles which support the implementation of regional mechanisms.
Mr Movick echoed Ambassador Friday in saying that the Pacific S.I.D.S are “not beggars” to the international table.
The international community fails to recognise the importance of the type of regimes that support the Pacific S.I.D.S.
The coming decades present the potential of joint workshops on national legislation and implementation strategies that may similarly enhance the implementation of the oceans-related conventions.
The Indonesian, South-East Lombok “blue Economy” Development Zone was implemented in cooperation with the F.A.O.
In developing integrated economic zones based on the principles of sustainability, nature’s efficiency, zero waste and social inclusiveness has the potential to influence the development of similar Blue economy projects in other S.I.D.S.
The whole issue of contextualising the circumstances of other ocean economies provide important lessons for S.I.D.S. Broadly, the recommendations for S.I.D.S can be summarized: Here, there is a strong trend for implementing ocean management strategies based on the concept sustainable development.
The national level was addressed as a way to develop integrated strategies for sustainable development, which can strengthen national planning frameworks and institutional mechanisms.
These developments must take into account the interactions between sectors and relationships for oceans.
The government of Seychelles are currently making improvements alongside their tourism industry. As such, Grenada, Indonesia and Seychelles are working towards developing well-defined and well-integrated strategy for activities in the region.
As an African state, the government of Seychelles observes that in promoting the implementing the B.G.I, the oceans must be looked at as a central resource.
At the planning level, the B.G.I must guide all ocean development frameworks in working towards the sustainable development agenda. Other key issues look at the ports and as a trading space.
All these practical project examples, are in a position to set the agenda for SIDS in promoting durable international support and coordinated adoption of programmes and budgets.
Thus it is important “to better connect the regions” in a multi national setting. The Indian Ocean is complicated and a lot of interest. However, getting a clear picture of what constitutes an appropriate implementation framework for ocean management is not easy.
Clearly defined goals will allow each country to judge its achievements vis-à-vis national and international commitments.
Accepting that premise, the B.G.I is a way to encourage the public participation and further blue economy employment opportunities. The government of Seychelles, concludes with the question of how are we to develop the B.G.I and make it work?
The projects will need to be planned from the island context in relation to ocean research.
How changing problems of ocean space present new institutional challenges and suggest how to realign existing arrangements so that they respond to the scale of the oceans problems and natural systems; help decision makers maintain an overview of the interrelated issues and at the same time find practical solutions for individual sources of threats; engage the comparative advantages of regional and global bodies; and, execute appropriate responsibilities from global and regional levels in the interest of vesting knowledge and capabilities for S.I.D.S.
The B.G.I recommendations look to sharpen the analysis of functional needs as a basis for restructuring the S.I.D.S institutional environment.
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