By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
Kenya has called for
strengthened international collaboration, increased investment in research, and
accelerated innovation to support sustainable ocean management and the
long-term growth of the Blue Economy.
Speaking at the opening of
the Scientific and Research Pre-Conference Symposium in Mombasa, ahead of the
11th Our Ocean Conference, Principal Secretary for the State Department for
Science, Research and Innovation, Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak, emphasized the
central role of science in shaping effective ocean governance and sustainable
development outcomes.
He noted that the success of
the Blue Economy should not be measured solely by academic outputs, but by
tangible improvements in ocean health, livelihoods of coastal communities, food
security, job creation, and long-term environmental sustainability.
Prof. Abdulrazak stressed
that scientific research remains essential for informing evidence-based
decision-making, particularly in areas such as sustainable fisheries
management, marine biodiversity protection, ecosystem restoration, pollution
control, and climate resilience.
He further highlighted the
need to translate research findings into practical solutions, pointing to
emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, satellite imaging,
isotopic analysis, and digital tools as critical enablers for monitoring and protecting
marine ecosystems.
The Principal Secretary also
underscored ongoing government efforts to strengthen the research ecosystem,
including plans to establish research chairs in the Blue Economy, implement
grand challenge initiatives, and develop innovation clusters to enhance impact.
Institutions such as the
National Research Fund, the National Commission for Science and Technology
(NACOSTI), and the Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA) were identified as
key partners in advancing research and innovation-driven development.
He further called for
increased investment in youth participation, research excellence,
commercialization of innovations, and domestic financing mechanisms to ensure
sustainability and long-term impact.
The symposium brought
together global stakeholders to explore strategies for improving ocean
governance and strengthening resilience in the face of climate change and
environmental degradation.
