AMSSA Blue Economy
Healthy waters, thriving communities, shared prosperity.
Africa’s oceans, seas, rivers and lakes offer opportunities for sustainable livelihoods, trade, food production and innovation. The Africa Blue Economy Strategy brings these opportunities together with environmental protection, stronger governance and social development.
AMSSA’s programme aims to help African nations turn this potential into practical progress. Our approach connects technical knowledge, regional cooperation and partnerships to support sustainable fisheries, responsible maritime development and climate-resilient communities.
Why it matters
A successful blue economy depends on more than increasing economic activity. It requires healthy ecosystems, safe and secure maritime operations, effective institutions and development that supports people’s livelihoods. The Africa Blue Economy Strategy links these priorities across fisheries, transport, tourism, energy, governance and innovative financing.
AMSSA’s strategy recognises that environmental pressures, climate impacts and fragmented governance can undermine this potential. Our programme seeks to strengthen the foundations for sustainable growth by connecting resource stewardship with capacity building, planning and cooperation.
Our areas of work
Sustainable fisheries and aquaculture
AMSSA’s programme aims to support sustainable fisheries management and responsible development of blue economy sectors, including aquaculture. This work connects food security and livelihoods with the protection of aquatic resources, alongside cooperation to address illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
Our intended role is to help partners share knowledge, strengthen capacity and identify practical opportunities for sustainable development.
Maritime transport, ports and trade
Shipping, ports and waterborne transport are central parts of Africa’s blue economy. The continental strategy includes maritime transport, trade, safety and security within its development priorities.
AMSSA’s wider safety, security and governance programme aims to help strengthen the conditions in which legitimate maritime activity can develop. This connects the Blue Economy engine with our work on standards, compliance, institutional capacity and regional cooperation.
Maritime /Marine spatial planning
Marine spatial planning helps bring different uses of maritime space into a coordinated planning process. The Africa Blue Economy Strategy identifies spatial planning and coordination as important elements of integrated governance.
AMSSA’s programme includes capacity building and support for participating states to develop marine spatial plans, alongside ecosystem protection and integrated coastal management.
Coastal Maritime Tourism
Tourism is one of the blue economy sectors identified in AMSSA’s strategy, including opportunities for private-sector engagement in eco-tourism. Our programme aims to connect sustainable economic activity with environmental stewardship and climate resilience.
The Africa Blue Economy Strategy similarly brings coastal and maritime tourism together with infrastructure, the environment and resilience.
Renewable energy and innovation
AMSSA’s strategy identifies renewable energy and innovation as opportunities within Africa’s maritime economy. Planned private-sector engagement includes renewable energy alongside aquaculture and eco-tourism.
Our proposed contribution is to connect expertise, share relevant experience and facilitate partnerships, helping participating organisations explore opportunities within sound planning and governance frameworks.
Climate-resilient ports and communities
AMSSA’s programme includes climate adaptation guidance for coastal ports and communities, as well as support for resilience planning. These priorities connect economic development with the need to prepare for climate-related pressures on infrastructure and livelihoods.
Our intended approach combines knowledge sharing, technical cooperation and capacity building to help partners identify risks and plan appropriate responses.
Healthy ecosystems and pollution preparedness
Environmental stewardship underpins AMSSA’s blue economy ambitions. The programme includes support for marine protected areas, integrated coastal management and coordinated preparedness for oil spills and other pollution emergencies.These activities complement the Environment engine, helping ensure that economic development and resource protection are considered together.
Turning knowledge into opportunity
AMSSA’s programme proposes a Blue Economy Knowledge Platform to bring together good practice, case studies and investment opportunities. It is intended to help participating organisations learn from experience and connect knowledge with practical development priorities.
The programme also includes facilitating private-sector engagement in blue economy sectors. AMSSA’s role is framed around cooperation and enabling partnerships, rather than providing finance or guaranteeing investment.
International and African frameworks
Africa Blue Economy Strategy
The Africa Blue Economy Strategy provides a continental framework for national and regional strategies. Its thematic areas cover fisheries and aquatic ecosystems; shipping, ports and trade; tourism and resilience; sustainable energy and innovation; and governance, employment and financing. AMSSA’s strategy identifies this framework as a reference for its programme, alongside African Union Agenda 2063 and the 2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy.
IMO and sustainable maritime development
IMO contributes to the blue economy through its work on safe, secure, efficient and environmentally sound shipping. Its national maritime transport policy programme helps countries strengthen governance and develop the maritime sector’s contribution to sustainable development. This provides a relevant foundation for AMSSA’s work on maritime institutions, standards and capacity building.
Cleaner shipping and technical cooperation IMO’s technical cooperation work supports countries in implementing shipping decarbonisation requirements and developing the knowledge and capacity needed for the transition. Its sustainable maritime transport financing initiative also addresses investment needs across the maritime value chain. These initiatives provide useful reference points for AMSSA’s intended knowledge sharing and partnership development. They do not imply a formal partnership or funding arrangement with IMO.
Sustainable Development Goal 14
AMSSA’s programme explicitly supports SDG 14, Life Below Water, through sustainable fisheries, ecosystem protection, pollution preparedness and better ocean governance.
Our 2026 priorities
AMSSA’s 2026 programme sets out the following priorities:
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Establish a Blue Economy Knowledge Platform containing good practice and case studies.
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Develop an African Regional Pollution Response Plan, including response assets and mutual-aid arrangements.
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Conduct a joint marine spill simulation exercise.
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Produce climate adaptation guidance for African coastal ports and communities.
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Support a coordination mechanism for marine protected areas.
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Facilitate private-sector engagement in blue economy sectors.
These are planned programme activities, not a statement that each is already operational.
Working together
AMSSA’s approach brings together public authorities, regional organisations, industry, research institutions and civil society. The strategy identifies cooperation, technical expertise and knowledge sharing as essential to turning shared priorities into practical progress.
We welcome enquiries from organisations interested in sustainable fisheries, marine spatial planning, climate resilience, blue economy knowledge sharing and programme partnerships.
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Explore blue economy resources
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Discuss a partnership