Namibia’s uncharted blue economy has a lot of potential

Namibia’s uncharted blue economy has a lot of potential

Opinion By Josef Kefas Sheehama Given the potential for the blue economy to generate a significant number of direct and indirect jobs, Namibia has a great chance for long-term economic growth and development. The NDP 5 interventions can also be utilized to realize Namibia's Vision 2030 aspirations of eradicating poverty, decreasing inequality, and fostering an inclusive economy. Namibia must revive, implement robust climate change mitigation strategies, […]

July 24, 2024 28

Africa

Mauritius’ next growth phase: a new plan is needed as the tax haven era fades

By Pritish Behuria, University of Manchester Mauritians will head to the polls by November 2024 and politicians are considering the economic direction of the island country. For the last two decades, the country’s economic growth has depended heavily on its offshore sector – the provision of financial services by banks to foreign firms. As an isolated country located in the south-western Indian Ocean, Mauritius has […]

June 18, 2024 28

Environment

Small-scale fishers could be allowed to catch new species

photo: Ashraf Hendricks By Liezl Human via GroundUp Small-scale fishers in the Western Cape could be allowed to catch new species, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has said. The Department is finalising policy for the small-scale sector in the Western Cape. Small-scale fishing cooperatives must be sustainable, Abongile Ngqongwa, deputy director of small-scale fisheries management, told Parliament on Tuesday. He said most resources had been declining and […]

February 28, 2024 27

Environment

Cape fishers worried about declining fish populations

Mario Jacobs has been doing commercial fishing for decades. Photo: Ashraf Hendricks By Liezl Human via GroundUp Mario Jacobs is worried. He has had a commercial fishing license since 1998, and has an annual quota for catching sardines and anchovies. But sardine stocks have been in poor shape for years and 2023 was the worst year on record for anchovy stocks. Jacobs, who is from Hangberg in Hout Bay, says his […]

January 24, 2024 15

Business / Economics

AI and satellite data map true scale of untracked fishing and ocean industry

By Elizabeth Fitt via Mongabay We’ve been largely flying blind when it comes to fishing, shipping and energy production intel on our oceans, according to a new study that combines artificial intelligence with satellite technology. Researchers found that more than three-quarters of industrial fishing activity and almost one-third of transport and energy activity is missing from public tracking systems, and therefore largely invisible globally. The study, from Global Fishing Watch (GFW), a […]

January 12, 2024 16

Africa

BlueInvest Africa 2024: Calling African Entrepreneurs

BlueInvest Africa is calling for African entrepreneurs eager to venture into the blue economy. Thirty outstanding projects will be handpicked for presentation to a panel of investors at the second edition of BlueInvest Africa, scheduled to take place in Kenya on 3 and 4 July 2024. The deadline for applications is 26 January 2024. BlueInvest Africa 2024 marks the second edition of this important business event, initiated by the […]

January 9, 2024 25

Business / Economics

In reversal, Mexico calls for moratorium on international deep-sea mining

By Elizabeth Claire Alberts via Mongabay Creature of the deep sea. Image by NOAA. On Nov. 21, Mexico became the latest nation to call for a moratorium on deep-sea mining in international waters. Before this announcement, some Mexican delegates to the International Seabed Authority, the UN-associated body tasked with regulating the activity, had expressed support for fast-tracking mining rules that would enable mining to start. This announcement came two weeks […]

November 29, 2023 11