ECOWAS Resumes Push to Finalise Regional Blue Economy Strategy

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has revived efforts to complete its long-delayed Regional Blue Economy Strategy, beginning with a high-level consultative workshop held on Monday in Abuja.

The workshop brought together representatives from ECOWAS member states, regional economic organisations, and continental institutions to review and validate the draft strategy, which has been pending since its initial development in 2022.

The blue economy—encompassing marine resources, aquaculture, maritime transport, ocean conservation, and climate resilience—is considered vital for sustainable growth across West Africa.

The draft was first developed under the Programme for Improved Regional Fisheries Governance in Western Africa (PESCAO) but stalled due to administrative delays.

Delivering remarks on behalf of outgoing Director of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alain Traoré, ECOWAS Programme Officer for Fishery Development and Blue Economy Focal Person, Djiga Thiao, highlighted the importance of regional cooperation in marine resource management.

Thiao emphasised the need for harmonised policies, noting the cross-cutting role of water resources in fisheries, aquaculture, shipping, and climate adaptation. He admitted that progress had stalled since 2022 but stressed that the blue economy remains a top priority for the ECOWAS Commission.

Quoting the outgoing commissioner, Thiao said the strategy was intended to be one of ECOWAS’ enduring legacies. He urged stakeholders to work collectively to ensure its successful validation, adding, “If we succeed, it will be our collective success; if we fail, it will be our collective failure.”

The African Union Commission (AUC), represented virtually by Linda Etta, reiterated its commitment to supporting ECOWAS in translating strategic ambitions into actionable outcomes. Similarly, AU-IBAR Blue Economy Expert Dr Mohammed Seisay reaffirmed support for both national and regional strategies, citing Burkina Faso as a recent beneficiary of AU assistance.

Participants at the workshop included delegates from AU-IBAR, the AUC, the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea, and national representatives from ECOWAS member states, alongside technical experts engaged in finalising the regional strategy.