Africa must close maritime enforcement gap -Kiyaramo

Africa must close maritime enforcement gap -Kiyaramo
Dr Piriye Kiyaramo, Convener, Africa Blue Economy Roundtable (ABER), has called for stronger enforcement of maritime policies across Africa.
Kiyaramo made the call in a goodwill message marking the 2026 World Maritime Day celebration.
The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) theme for 2026-2027 is “From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence.”
He said the theme came at a defining moment for Africa, where coastal communities often faced weak implementation despite having world-class policies.
“For too long, Africa’s coastal communities have lived with world-class policies but poor practice,” Kiyaramo said.
He said the theme should close the enforcement gap and make global maritime rules effective in every port and on every deck.
According to him, “Powering” means momentum and targeted support, while “Excellence” means a safe, secure, efficient and environmentally sustainable maritime industry.
Kiyaramo said biodiversity loss, plastic pollution and climate change were among challenges requiring urgent movement from policy formulation to practical implementation.
He said declining fisheries, mangrove destruction, coral bleaching and depleted fish stocks were affecting coastal livelihoods across Africa.
He called for the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework through community-managed Marine Protected Areas.
Kiyaramo also urged stronger implementation of MARPOL Annex V, the London Protocol and the proposed Global Plastics Treaty.
He said African coastal communities contributed less than four per cent of global emissions but continued to bear the effects of climate change.
To address the challenges, Kiyaramo said ABER recommended five urgent actions by African governments, the African Union and the Diaspora.
He listed the measures as stronger maritime legislation, investment in capacity development, community-led conservation, a circular blue economy and climate justice.
Kiyaramo called for faster domestication of IMO conventions, the African Blue Economy Strategy and the Moroni Declaration on Sustainable Blue Economy.
He also advocated training for seafarers, port workers, flag and port State control officers, as well as community ocean stewards.
The ABER convener proposed a Continental Coastal Guardians Fund to support fisherwomen and youths involved in mangrove restoration and coastal conservation.
He further advocated a Pan-African ban on single-use plastics in coastal zones by 2028, alongside incentives for sustainable packaging and recycling.
Kiyaramo urged African countries to integrate ocean-based climate adaptation into their Nationally Determined Contributions.
He said ABER would serve as a “Strategy-to-Execution Bridge” through its 30-member Tactical Committee, 54 National Coordinators and Diaspora chapters.
He said the organisation would produce a 90-day Continental Flagship Report on “From Policy to Practice in Africa.”
“From the creeks of Bayelsa to the shores of the Diaspora, the time to power maritime excellence is now,” Kiyaramo said.