President Uhuru Kenyatta has called on the G7 nations to step forward and support the initiative to protect seas and oceans. Addressing the outreach session in the G7 summit in Quebec, Canada, President Kenyatta said the protection of oceans and seas should be considered across the board. With the Blue Economy conference-which will be co-sponsored by this year’s G7 summit host Canada-slated for November in Nairobi, it was a great opportunity for the President to voice concerns and build a strong foundation ahead of the conference that is set to highlight improved and enhanced maritime economy, among other issues, “Global partnerships on a win-win basis are necessary in tackling the capacity gaps the most afflicted countries face,” he said. The G7 summit brings together the most industrialized nations which are USA, UK, Canada, France, Japan, Italy, and Germany.
The president revealed that Kenya’s blue economy hasn’t been fully exploited, given that it’s a sector that can be very profitable for the nation. Plastic litter and Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated fishing have are the most notable threats, and he assured the summit of the committed stand against plastic litter, “The G7 should recognize and speak with a strong voice against the vice of plastics and its adverse effects on environmental pollution and climate change,” he said.
Furthermore, he spoke against offences committed in the fishing sector, including using unauthorized gear, fishing without a license, among others, saying the Eastern Coast of Africa, which has nations like Somalia, Tanzania, Kenya, Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Mozambique, attracts many fishing vessels from around the world, but one out of every five fish are caught illegally. He urged the G7 nations to partner with Africa to strengthen maritime surveillance and response capabilities to reduce unsecured and ungoverned spaces in which criminals and insurgents can operate.