By Helga Ndinda
Picture this: it is the long weekend; you hop on a train to the coast and anticipate the sea and relaxed vibes. Next to you, though, is a group of people who keep talking about the ‘blue economy.’ You close your eyes and try to shut out the noise and sleep, but you just can’t. If you've been wondering why everyone's suddenly talking about the "blue economy," like it's the next big thing since electric cars, you're in the right place. Let's dive into this ocean of opportunity and see what all the fuss is about.
A local dives into the ocean at Tudor Creek Mombasa. Photo: TEAOF
What Exactly is the Blue Economy?
Imagine you're chilling at Nyali Beach with your crew, munching on some crispy bhajias and sipping on a Tusker Baridi. You're watching the waves roll in, thinking life's pretty sweet. Now, what if I told you that the big blue ocean isn't just there for your weekend fun and Instagram stories?
That ocean is like a massive shamba, but instead of maize and beans, it's growing money. That's what this blue economy thing is all about. Somebody really looked at the ocean and said, "Eh, we can make this work for us!"
But hold up; don't start thinking we'll drain the ocean dry like it's the last Fanta at a family gathering. Nope. The blue economy is smarter than that. It's about making money from the ocean without messing it up. It's all about making money from our big blue playground, but in a way that doesn't make Mother Nature want to send a tsunami our way.'
A beach clean-up activity pre-festival event in preparation for the just concluded East African Ocean Festival. Photo: TEAOF
The ABCs (or should we say "Sea-BCs") of Blue Economy
A is for Aquaculture
Think of it as underwater farming, but instead of chasing away monkeys from your maize, you're shooing away curious octopuses from your fish pens. Imagine growing fish faster than your aunt can forward WhatsApp messages.
B is for Biotechnology
No, it's not about creating a race of merman to serve as tour guides. It's using cool science stuff from the ocean to make medicines and cosmetics. Soon, you might be smearing seaweed on your face and calling it a Ksh 5000 anti-aging cream. Just Bizness!
C is for Coastal Tourism
This one's easy—it's what happens when Wazungu realise they can get a tan and see lions in the same country. But now, we're talking eco-lodges, whale watching, and underwater hotels. It's like turning the coast into a giant Airbnb, minus the annoying neighbours.
Now, here is the age-old question...
Why Should Kenyans Care?
1. Jobs, Jobs, Jobs: The blue economy could create more jobs than there are fish in the sea. Okay, maybe not that many, but enough to make your unemployed cousin finally move out of your spare room.
2. Food Security: Fish farming could produce more seafood than we know what to do with. Forget the ugali and sukuma wiki—it's all about ugali and super-wiki (seaweed, that is). We could even have enough fish to make "Fish Fridays" a national tradition.
3. Climate Change: The ocean is like nature's air conditioner. By taking care of it, we're basically ensuring that Nairobi doesn't turn into a sauna. We are also ensuring that future generations can enjoy beaches without having to wade through plastic bottles.
4. New Revenue: Relying solely on land-based resources like tea and coffee is so last century! We're about to make it rain with seaweed cosmetics and fish fillets.
How to Get Involved (Without Getting Wet)
1. Learn to swim: Just kidding, but not really. It might come in handy.
2. Educate Yourself: Learn about marine conservation. It's like binge-watching a Netflix series, and it actually makes you smarter.
3. Invest in ocean-friendly businesses: Choose restaurants and markets that source their fish responsibly. Your taste buds and the ocean will thank you.
4. Stop using the ocean as a giant trash can: Those plastic bags aren't fish food, no matter what your littering cousin says. They also have a longer lifespan than most Hollywood marriages. Let's change that.
5. Spread awareness: Become an ocean ambassador. It's like being a social media influencer but for a cause that actually matters.
The blue economy isn't just another buzzword; it's a sea of opportunities waiting for Kenyans to dive in. From creating jobs to protecting our environment, it's a chance to make waves in our economy. So the next time you're enjoying a beach day, remember: you're looking at Kenya's next economic frontier. Just don't forget your sunscreen—the future of the blue economy might be bright, but sunburn is still no joke.
