Sustainable Ocean Economies in African Small Island Developing States

This policy briefing examines the development of sustainable ocean economies (SOE) in African Small Island Developing States (SIDS), identifying the drivers of investment and the regulatory and institutional frameworks necessary to transition toward climate-resilient, regenerative blue economies.

• A sustainable ocean economy (SOE) is defined as using ocean resources to drive economic growth, improve employment and livelihoods, and maintain the health of ocean ecosystems and services. It includes sectors such as marine biotechnology, aquaculture, fisheries, and marine protection, while emphasizing governance aspects like transparency, accountability, and stakeholder engagement.
• Investment and funding decisions for SOEs in SIDS are driven by a combination of factors beyond just legal frameworks. Primary determinants include political will, the location and environment, the country's track record in preserving the marine environment, institutional arrangements for ocean affairs, and the presence of trusted in-country partners.
• African SIDS exhibit varying levels of political commitment to ocean governance. While all six are parties to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, Mauritius and Seychelles have led in ratifying the BBNJ Agreement. Conversely, Guinea-Bissau has not ratified the Port State Measures Agreement, and neither Guinea-Bissau nor São Tomé and Príncipe has ratified the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.
• Despite commitments to the 30x30 global campaign by Cabo Verde, Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, and Seychelles, actual marine protection remains low for most. Cabo Verde, Comoros, Mauritius, and São Tomé and Príncipe protect less than 1% of their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs). Seychelles is a notable exception, increasing its protected EEZ from less than 1% in 2015 to 33% following a $21.6 million debt-for-nature swap.
• African SIDS generally prefer formalized institutional arrangements for ocean affairs, with four of the six states establishing ministries dedicated to the blue economy. These ministries typically serve as coordination units across various sectors. For example, São Tomé and Príncipe codified its blue economy strategy into law in 2022, creating a Strategic Intelligence Unit for the Blue Economy.
• While an enabling legal environment is critical, there is no single fixed set of laws required to secure investment. Common helpful measures include tax breaks for aquaculture and mariculture, and laws against bribery, money laundering, and terrorism financing. In some cases, specific regulations are required before funds can be disbursed, as seen with the 2018 Seychelles blue bond.

APA

Pouponneau, A. (2025). Sustainable Ocean Economies in African Small Island Developing States. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/SAIIA_PB-307_SIDS.pdf

Chicago

Pouponneau, Angelique. Sustainable Ocean Economies in African Small Island Developing States. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2025. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/SAIIA_PB-307_SIDS.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Pouponneau |first1=Angelique |title=Sustainable Ocean Economies in African Small Island Developing States |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=May 2025 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/SAIIA_PB-307_SIDS.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{pouponneau2025sustainable, author = {Pouponneau, Angelique}, title = {{Sustainable Ocean Economies in African Small Island Developing States}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2025}, month = may, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/SAIIA_PB-307_SIDS.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }