By Catherine Matolo, Communications & Outreach Specialist at RCoE Project at RCMRD

“No water, no life. No blue, no green.” – Sylvia Earle

Why the Ocean is finally taking center stage and why it matters

Covering more than 70% of the Earth's surface, the ocean is our planet's life support system, regulating climate, supplying oxygen, and sustaining biodiversity. Yet for too long, it has been neglected in both political and economic decision-making. Today, however, we are witnessing a shift: global and regional conversations are finally centering the ocean.

This momentum is not only long overdue, it is essential.

The numbers speak for themselves:

• Over 90% of the world's fish stocks are fully exploited, overexploited, or depleted (FAO, 2022).
• The ocean absorbs about 30% of CO₂ emissions and over 90% of excess heat caused by global warming, making it both a buffer and a victim of the climate crisis.
• Coastal ecosystems such as mangroves and seagrasses are disappearing three to five times faster than terrestrial forests (UNEP, 2021).
• Human activities such as pollution, agricultural activities that lead to soil erosion causing coral smothering and infrastructural development like
  dredging and land reclamation, are severely threatening coral reefs, yet little action is being taken to remedy the situation.
• Plastics are choking our seas, with 11 million metric tons entering the ocean every year, a figure expected to nearly triple by 2040 without urgent action (Pew Charitable Trusts).

These numbers aren't just statistics, they’re a call to action.

From Global Declarations to Regional Action

The world’s oceans are making waves in the global policy arena and not a moment too soon. With the UN Ocean Conference set to take place in June 2025 and the Our Ocean Conference is set to happen in Kenya the first African country to host it, reflect the growing consensus that ocean health is human health, and that protecting marine biodiversity is not just an environmental imperative, but an economic, food security, and geopolitical one.

For countries in Africa, home to 30,000 km of coastline and over 38 coastal and island states, marine ecosystems are the backbone of fisheries, tourism, and community livelihoods. Local action, grounded in science and equity, must be the cornerstone of ocean conservation. 

RCoE_ESA: A Scientific and Regional Hub for Marine Conservation

At the Regional Centre of Excellence for Biodiversity, Forests and Seascape Management (RCoE), hosted by RCMRD, we understand that data drives decision-making. Our work in marine and coastal ecosystems places science at the center of conservation efforts, equipping African countries with tools and partnerships to act decisively.

Our Marine and Coastal Programme Focus on:

• Mapping marine biodiversity and tracking ecosystem change using satellite imagery and spatial data
• Collecting, harmonizing and disseminating comprehensive data on marine protected areas
• Supporting countries with data-driven national strategies aligned with meeting some of the targets under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
• Centralizing critical data through a unified hub, such as a geoportal, to inform policy decisions and support governance across countries, while also facilitating data contributor agreements and partnerships that promote cross-border collaboration

Our approach ensures that marine conservation is not siloed or short-term, but part of a systems-level shift toward resilient coastal communities and thriving seascapes. 

Why Regional Engagement and Collaboration Matters

The ocean is transboundary. Currents, species, and pollutants do not stop at national borders. Therefore, neither should our research nor our conservation strategies.

That’s why RCoE_ESA champions:

• Cross-border data harmonization
• Co-development of tools that integrate local knowledge with geospatial data
• Support for marine protected areas through geospatial planning and ecosystem service valuation

In doing so, we’re aligning Eastern and Southern African countries not only with each other, but also with the global ambition of 30x30, the target to protect 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030.

The Ocean at the Heart of Regional Dialogue

Events like the upcoming Blue Economy Policy Summit held in Mombasa are essential platforms for turning scientific knowledge into policy action. The summit will feature African marine scholars, policy-makers, and coastal actors discussing the way forward.

RCoE-ESA is looking forward to the scientific insights to these dialogues and advocate for solutions that bridge conservation and development.

 Conclusion

Our vision is simple: a future where African countries can sustainably develop their marine and coastal zones without compromising ecological integrity.

But we can’t do it alone.

As a regional science hub, we welcome partners, from governments and research institutions to youth groups and civil society, to join us in turning the tide.

Because the ocean doesn’t recognize borders, and neither should our actions