The Nippon Foundation Hosts Second African Eminent Persons Meeting to Discuss Blue Economy, Food Security for Sustainable Development (2)
Published on September 3, 2026
The text of a statement issued at the end of the second African Eminent Persons Meeting held in Nikko on June 24-25 follows: (A welcoming dinner was held on June 23.)
Eminent Persons Meeting on Sustainable Blue Economies and Food Security in Africa
Nikko, Tochigi, Japan, 23–25 June 2026
Africa, endowed with rich natural resources, continues robust economic growth with a rapidly expanding population. Surrounded by the ocean, the continent has significant potential to benefit from sustainable blue economies that will enhance food security and support overall sustainable development. Africa with gaps and inequality in socio-economic terms, at the same time, must tackle complex and interrelated challenges to realize this potential. It is therefore recommended to pursue the following actions to promote sustainable blue economies, improve food security, and foster international partnerships, particularly between Japan and Africa.
1. Conserving the ocean, marine and coastal ecosystems for the present and future generations
The ocean covers approximately 71 per cent of the Earth’s surface, and the seafloor extends to depths of over 11,000 meters. 28.7 per cent of the global seafloor has been mapped to modern standards. The ocean is a life-supporting biosphere that sustains biodiversity and human livelihoods.
However, a large proportion of the ocean, particularly the deep sea, remains to be understood. It is vital to facilitate actions to conserve marine and coastal biodiversity and ecosystems, while supporting the sustainable use of marine resources for present and future generations. It is important to facilitate policy measures in line with international policy frameworks including the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement).
2. Promoting co-benefit in sustainable blue economies
A co-benefit approach is a key factor in promoting sustainable blue economies. The synergistic implementation of multiple policy objectives can enhance the overall impact of policy measures while optimizing trade-offs. It is important to support multi-stakeholder dialogue and collaboration, cross-sectoral partnerships, and innovation across multiple dimensions, including social engagement, technological applications, financing, and international cooperation.
3. Properly valuating coastal and marine ecosystems and their services as nature capital
It is vital to value coastal and marine ecosystems as nature capital. The undervaluation of natural capital is detrimental to the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources and their proper benefit sharing in Africa.
Carbon credit schemes are instrumental; however, their benefits for local communities and stakeholders must be placed at the center of such initiatives. Carbon, biodiversity, and other ecological and socio-economic benefits of mangrove, seagrass and salt marsh should be further explored through blue carbon initiatives. J‑Blue Credit, a Japanese national scheme for quantifying carbon and enabling financial transactions based on certified carbon credits, provides a useful perspective for valuing ecological assets and fostering social collaboration and partnership.
4. Scaling up sustainable commercial aquaculture
There are untapped potentials of promoting sustainable aquaculture in a commercial term. It is a priority to accelerate efforts to scale up commercial aquaculture systems to boost domestic fish supply, with particular focus on supporting aquaculture and blue economy entrepreneurship. Exchange of experimentations help assessing the potential and feasibility and exploring approaches applicable, sustainable and economically viable aquaculture.
5. Combating and eliminating IUU fishing
Combating and eliminating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing must be pursued as a policy priority. IUU fishing undermines the sustainable management of fish stocks and entails significant economic losses for legitimate fishers and their respective countries, while also being associated with other crimes and illegal activities.
Increased efforts are needed to promote the effective use of satellite data, aerial and maritime surveillance, as well as aerial and underwater drones, alongside the implementation of the Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA), catch documentation schemes, and sustainability and traceability certification. It should be recognized that measures to combat IUU fishing can also reduce the risks of forced labor, human rights violations, human and drug trafficking, organized crime, and illegal migration.
Transboundary, sub-regional, and regional cooperation must be strengthened to enhance the effectiveness of IUU fishing countermeasures. Collaboration must be advanced under the reginal fishery management organizations (RFMOs) and other multilateral fishery agreements. It is useful to examine the feasibility of issuing an IUU fishing index bond to mobilize resources and strengthen institutional capability of eliminating IUU fishing and excluding seafood of IUU fishing from markets.
6. Enhancing disaster preparedness and building climate resilient communities
Coastal and island communities with the great potential of benefit sustainable blue economies remain susceptible and vulnerable to disasters and climate change impacts. Enhancing disaster preparedness including early warning systems is essential.
It is also vital to promote resilient development to climate change and extreme climatic events including rainstorms, sea level rise and coastal erosion. Nature/ecosystem-based approaches should be a main pillar in such efforts. Lessons, experiences and innovative approaches in Japan should be shared with African stakeholders.
(To be continued)