It is good for the African continent to wrap itself with the belt of sustainability and the protection of marine biodiversity. What’s even better is for the ‘Blue Belt Initiative’ to launch from the furthest northwest point of the African continent (Marrakech, Morocco), a Mediterranean and African region, and in a global forum where the international community discusses a crucial issue for our planet’s security, the issue of climate.
The “Blue Belt Initiative” started during the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (COP22), hosted by Morocco in 2016. The initiative serves as an international and African cooperation tool to change the way oceans are managed in the fields of fishing and aquaculture. The initiative serves as an international and African cooperation tool to change the way oceans are managed in the fields of fishing and aquaculture. This platform, which stimulates innovations, seeks to support actors involved in the creation of projects by facilitating the search for funding, monitoring their achievements, and sharing expertise, experiences and innovative solutions.
The initiative represents a valuable opportunity for Africa to join forces to preserve oceans, promote the blue economy, meet future challenges, and position African countries as key players in protecting the planet and sustaining marine activities.
Morocco has one of the most productive marine areas in the world. It is an important strategic repository of marine food resources. It has all the ingredients needed to develop a diversified blue economy. It has a high growth potential. The multiple strategic economic and environmental dimensions of marine areas place Morocco, together with all maritime countries, responsible for the preservation of the oceans.
The challenges of protecting the oceans and maintaining the sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture are now clear. Changes in aquatic systems due to climate change will affect the fisheries sector and ecosystem services along the value chain. Thanks to Morocco’s natural resources and the recent efforts made within the framework of the national strategy “Halieutis, it has managed to establish a vibrant fish food industry, making it a sector that contributes to national food sovereignty and security, as well as to global food provision.
As food security has become vulnerable, it has become imperative to take urgent measures accommodate these changes and anticipate their effects on aquatic food production systems, as well as to promote scientific research and innovation in this field of blue economy and provide knowledge and information to those concerned in the sector.
The African experience has shown that effective political participation in fishing management is essential for the sustainability of this sector, but enhancing the regional participation of actors in the management process as well as adopting a regional approach seems to be a key factor that determines the success of any fishing policy.
It is necessary to work on supporting the resilience of oceans and marine ecosystems, especially marine biodiversity, by enhancing the capacity to adapt to climate change..
Therefore, the convergence of interests and interests in the environment, climate and oceans will contribute to the adoption of a basic ecosystem approach, the “Blue Belt Initiative”. It is a new tool for sustainable fisheries and aquaculture in the context of climate change and the new blue economy.
This initiative aims to complete regional and national strategies for the fisheries sector in terms of sustainable and environmentally friendly activities, while changing environmental constraints related to the effects of climate change into new economic opportunities with added value. It provides job opportunities and is based on a comprehensive goal of providing a collaborative platform that places ocean users at the heart of the process to work together. It ensures the resilience of the oceans, the sustainability of the fishing sector and the health of the ecosystem, and is supported by scientific research and sound data.
The initiative proposes a set of priority solutions aimed at adaptation and contributing to mitigating the effects of climate change in order to support the emergence of coastal observation systems and their integration into international systems, promote participatory science through the “user-monitor,” concept, improve ocean observation in priority African regions and encourage the development of adaptive strategies.
The proposed solutions aim to enable the industry in the field of sustainable fisheries to achieve climate and economic control by reducing fishing, better protection and better assessment. Additionally, for sustainable aquaculture that contributes to mitigating the effects of climate change, such as large marine algae, microalgae, or integrated multi-nutrient aquaculture.
It is worth mentioning that the initiative has been joined by 31 member countries, including 23 African countries and the European Union. It mainly focuses on coastal areas and economic zones, especially those that focus on the majority of fishing and aquaculture activities, representing more than 85 percent of global fishery resources.
It is worth mentioning that the city of Agadir in Morocco hosted the second high-level conference of the “Blue Belt Initiative” in January 2023 under the slogan: “Towards scientific, economic, and environmental integration for the benefit of the blue economy,” aimed at providing examples of sustainable projects aimed at commercial businesses.
The conference brought together 32 speakers, comprising about 20 delegations including 15 African countries, held in a context characterized by the urgent need to preserve precious oceans while ensuring the viability of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors. Africa, aware of these critical issues, has pooled its resources to craft a collective, comprehensive, and integrated vision for the blue economy. At the heart of this dynamic cooperation, regional and sub-regional cooperation, South-South, has proven to be a fundamental pillar, enabling the harnessing of international support and successful addressing of these urgent challenges.
The forum provided an opportunity for dialogue and enhancing cooperation and synergy among various parties. It also served as a chance to strengthen technical and scientific cooperation, through the signing of memoranda of understanding to conduct fish stock assessment campaigns in the Exclusive Economic Zones of Benin and Liberia by the National Institute for Fisheries Research. Morocco mobilized the research vessel “Al Hassan Al Marrakchi” and scientific teams from the National Institute for Fisheries Research (INRH) for a mission at sea lasting approximately two months from January 16 to March 10, 2024, covering initially both Benin and Liberia, with financial contribution from the international governmental organization “Ministerial Conference on Fisheries Cooperation Among African Atlantic Coastal States (COMHAFAT).”
The conference brought together 32 speakers, comprising about 20 delegations including 15 African countries, held in a context characterized by the urgent need to preserve precious oceans while ensuring the viability of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors. Africa, aware of these critical issues, has pooled its resources to craft a collective, comprehensive, and integrated vision for the blue economy. At the heart of this dynamic cooperation, regional and sub-regional cooperation, South-South, has proven to be a fundamental pillar, enabling the harnessing of international support and successful addressing of these urgent challenges.
The forum provided an opportunity for dialogue and enhancing cooperation and synergy among various parties. It also served as a chance to strengthen technical and scientific cooperation, through the signing of memoranda of understanding to conduct fish stock assessment campaigns in the Exclusive Economic Zones of Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, and Liberia by the National Institute for Fisheries Research. Morocco mobilized the research vessel “Al Hassan Al Marrakchi” and scientific teams from the National Institute for Fisheries Research (INRH) for a mission at sea lasting approximately two months from January 16 to March 10, 2024, covering initially both Benin and Liberia, with financial contribution from the international governmental organization “Ministerial Conference on Fisheries Cooperation Among African Atlantic Coastal States (COMHAFAT).”
BENRAMEL MOSTAFA Président de l’Association Minarets Ecologies pour le Développement et Climat emphasized the importance of the Blue Belt Initiative at the national level by enhancing sustainability in the marine fishing sector and developing sustainable fishing techniques, as well as protecting marine biodiversity. This initiative aims to create job opportunities by supporting aquaculture projects and developing the infrastructure of the maritime sector. Additionally, it aims to improve food security by increasing fish production and enhancing access to fish for all segments of society. Furthermore, it seeks to adapt to climate change by supporting projects that mitigate the impacts of climate change on the maritime sector.
At the regional level, Benramel emphasized that the initiative seeks to enhance cooperation between African countries and the Mediterranean region in the field of marine fishing and the blue economy. It aims to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and experiences among countries in the fields of marine fishing and the blue economy. Additionally, it aims to mobilize financial resources to implement sustainable development projects in the field of marine fishing and the blue economy, and to protect marine biodiversity through cooperation in combating illegal fishing and marine pollution.
Benramel also highlighted the initiative’s effective contribution, in its international dimension, to achieving sustainable development goals, eradicating hunger, and protecting marine environments. Furthermore, it aims to strengthen international cooperation and provide a framework for cooperation between countries to enhance the sustainability of marine fishing and the blue economy, adapt to climate change, support innovation, and attract necessary funding to address all the challenges facing the sea, which serves as a food source, a reservoir of carbon dioxide, and a regulator of various atmospheric phenomena.
Mr. Mohamed Rida Derdabi, president of the Moroccan Association for the Protection of Marine Environment and Sustainable Development, considered that the “Blue Belt Initiative,” adopted by Morocco along with several partners, serves as a comprehensive strategy aimed at achieving a smooth transition towards an environmentally friendly blue economy. It ensures the balance between the integrity of marine ecosystems and the dignity of individuals working in the maritime sector, providing the sector with options and alternatives to address the impacts of climate change.
The deterioration of fish stocks at the local, regional and international levels is pushing many countries, including Morocco, to seek implementable solutions and alternatives based on sustainable practices such as sustainable fishing and aquaculture. The success of these solutions remains inherently dependent on the development of scientific research, as well as the exchange of knowledge and experiences.
“So, it can be said that the Blue Belt Initiative is an initiative with multiple economic, environmental and social dimensions. Its aim is to adapt and adapt to the current reality of scarce products, rising sea water temperature, rising sea acidity, changes in the structure of marine ecosystems. It seeks to adopt new and sustainable practices such as expanding protected areas to restore the health of ecosystems and fish stocks, creating quality marks, and granting ecological certifications to specific products, as well as valorizing underutilized fish species,” added Mohamed Rida Derdabi. Mohamed Rida Derdabi
Dr. Patrice Brehmer, an oceanographer at the French Research Institute for Development (IRD) and the Scientific Advisor to the Permanent Secretary of the Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission (CSRP) said that at the political level, following several pilot initiatives, the Blue Belt Initiative has effectively achieved its goals within a timeline. However, now is the time to give it the scope it deserves to achieve its goals, a work that has been focused on in recent years.
The signing of the “Agadir Declaration” (16 countries) was a great success and an important step forward. In addition, the Blue Belt Initiative now has a strategic framework extending from 2023 to 2027, which will allow it to start operating and still find sources of funding. It is important to emphasize that any large-scale action requires a long preparation time in order not to disappoint partners, achieve tangible results and achieve tangible results for the ultimate beneficiaries of this initiative. We are confident that the initiative is on track to achieve its full potential and continue to promote marine sustainability and environmentally responsible practices in fisheries.
Patrice added that the promising prospects of the initiative include enhancing the ability to adapt to climate change through sustainable practices in the marine and fisheries sectors, promoting economic growth through the responsible exploitation of marine resources, preserving marine biodiversity necessary for the food security of coastal populations, enhancing regional cooperation in order to effectively manage marine resources, and developing local expertise by supporting research and innovation in the management of marine resources, providing a path towards a positive transformation of a more sustainable and equitable management of the oceans, especially in Africa, where expectations are high and the prospects are very promising.
For further clarification, a brief interview was held with Dr. Abdelmalek Faraj, the Director General of the National Institute for Fisheries Research in Morocco
Question 1: Has the initiative achieved the prospects set for it since its launch in terms of conserving resources, in terms of African coordination and creating a unified vision to address major and common problems?
Since its launch, the Blue Belt Initiative has made many achievements, especially in terms of coordination and mobilization of stakeholders around priority areas. So far, the initiative has 31 member states and has organized two major high-level conferences in 2019 and 2023. These events have presented several topics that are now considered as priority tools and solutions for the conservation of marine resources. From this point of view, the “user-monitor” concept promoted by the initiative has been implemented through the programs and projects of “Controlled Fishing” (LA Pêche Sentinelle). These initiatives have been well received by professionals and are currently being developed, generating interest at the national and regional levels, especially along the West African coast.
In addition, this initiative provides a framework for coordination and a platform for dialogue that has facilitated the implementation of memorandums of understanding with member states such as Benin and Liberia. These memoranda were implemented through scientific exploration campaigns in the sea carried out by Morocco, forming part of the Royal Integrated Vision of Atlantic Integration.
Question 2: Morocco is in a good position in the field of marine research. Marine research has made tremendous progress in terms of scientific results. What is the role of marine scientific research in the context of the initiative?
Fishery research plays a crucial role. Through research and innovation, we can increase and disseminate our knowledge of the marine environment and make it accessible to all users. By investing in research and innovation, we will develop new ways to sustainably exploit our oceans and thereby respect their environmental integrity. There is a significant global knowledge gap in the field of oceans, which is why Morocco is committed to strengthening its capacity and developing knowledge at the national and African levels.
Question 3: Is the Moroccan coastal strip in the Mediterranean Bank involved in the initiative?
Yes, obviously, and it is important to note that the General Fisheries Authority for the Mediterranean (CGPM)is a partner in the initiative. In general, although the Blue Belt Initiative currently focuses on Africa, the initiative is by definition open to all coastal areas as it focuses on most fishing and aquaculture activities on a global scale, and up to 85 percent of the world’s catch is from fisheries. However, these areas are also areas that are more exposed and more sensitive to human activities and their impacts. Hence, there is a need to act at this level as a priority, both in terms of scientific monitoring and transforming ocean exploitation systems for sustainability.
