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The African Experience on Ocean
Environment Management: Problems Encountered and Lessons Learnt in the
Continental Coordinating Process
Dr. Mbaye Ndoye
Assistant Executive Secretary, Organization of African Unity, Scientific
Technical & Research Commission, Nigeria
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The major goals and
objectives of sustainable ocean management can be stated as follows:
- to protect the ocean environment so that it can provide benefits to all
Mankind on a sustainable basis; and
- to develop ocean industries so that they can make an optimum contribution to
national development by providing employment and income.
In keeping with these goals the major objectives should include:
the promotion of growth and development in ocean-related sectors of the
economy within the context of sustainable development;
the greater integration of ocean industries in the developmental process;
the improvement of management and the development of an integrated
management system, which would reduce overall management costs.
The basic conditions for the sustainability of ocean resources should
underscore:
- important ecosystem and ecological features of the oceans which simply be
protected to maintain biological diversity;
- Renewable ocean resources must be renewed, and sustainable harvesting must
be rigorously enforced; and
- Depletion of non-renewable resources should proceed on the basis of
extending the life expectancy of resources by efficient use.
c. Requirements for Sustainable Ocean Development and Management in Africa
Requirements for sustainable ocean management and development for African
coastal States are characterized by:
- Technology and skills to develop the primary, secondary, and tertiary
sub-sectors relating to ocean space, as well as private-sector support and
investment in these sub-sectors; infrastructural facilities for oceans such as
wharves, ports and harbours, including trained staff to manage and operate them;
- Organizational and institutional arrangements at all levels of government,
including surveillance and enforcement capabilities; research capabilities to
determine the magnitude and distribution of resources and environmental
problems; environmental programmes, trained resource personnel, and the
political support to make environmental issues a priority in developmental
activities;
- Adequate marine personnel and facilities to manage international shipping in
national waters; and institutional arrangements at national levels, including
the capacity to plan and monitor development programmes.
Many African countries, as a result of their level of development will have
particular difficulties in meeting most of these requirements.
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