August 20, (THEWILL) – The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Bayelsa State Governor on Tourism and facilitator of the South-South Tourism Roundtable initiative, Dr. Piriye Kiyaramo, has tasked South-South Governors to invest more in the emerging Blue Economy, with a view to unlocking the potential of the ocean to create more jobs and boost their States’ economies.
Kiyaramo said the oceans, seas and coastal areas contribute to food security and poverty eradication, adding that over three billion people use the oceans for sustenance and 80% of world trade occurs over the seas. He said the Blue Economy describes the sustainable use and conservation of aquatic resources in both marine and freshwater environments, including oceans and seas, coastlines and banks, lakes, rivers and groundwater.
He made the appeal while speaking with newsmen in Uyo, the capital city of Akwa Ibom State, at the weekend, adding that marine-related investments will trigger sufficient blue growth in the south-south region because of its abundant marine resources begging for attention.
While commending the President for creating the new Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, he reiterated the urgent need for the States in the region to articulate workable strategies to foster the benefits of a sustainable ocean economy that would enable the zone to optimise the use of the marine resources without jeopardizing the health of the ocean and the ecosystems.
The Governor’s aide further noted that while the traditional maritime industries continue to innovate at a brisk rate, the emerging ocean industries have also continued to attract more attention from investors, informing that the ocean economy is driven by a combination of population growth, rising incomes, dwindling natural resources, responses to climate change and pioneering technologies.
“These industries, which include offshore wind, tidal and wave energy, oil and gas production in ultra-deepwater and exceptionally harsh environments, offshore aquaculture, seabed mining, cruise tourism, maritime surveillance and marine biotechnology are best fitted to be located in the south-south region.
“Findings indicate that the concept of a ‘Blue Economy’ emphasises conservation and sustainable management, based on the premise that healthy ocean ecosystems are more productive and a must for sustainable ocean-based economies.
“The concept of blue growth refers to a more sustainable ocean economy, enabling the optimum use of its resources, according to the health of the ocean and its ecosystems. Therefore, investing in the Blue Economy means unlocking the potentials of the ocean to create more jobs and boost the economy.
“As a marine and coastal analogue to the Green Economy, the Blue Economy approach is based on a vision of improved well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities.
“Marine resources often serve important ecological functions, providing coastal protection, and are critical resources for food, energy, tourism and economic development.
“In many parts of the world, such marine and coastal systems are under stress or are threatened from a variety of sources, both human and natural. Karmenu Vella once said: “If the ocean were a country, it would be the world’s seventh largest economy,” Kiyaramo said.
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