MOMBASA, June 18 -- For centuries, communities along Africas eastern coast have understood what todays global policymakers are only now beginning to grasp: the ocean is more than just a vast space; it is the veritable lifeblood of economies, livelihoods and cultures.

So many African nations are built around the movement of people, goods and ideas across the Indian Ocean. If that was true then, it is even truer today.

Indeed, today, Africas ocean economy is at a turning point. Fisheries and aquaculture already contribute an estimated USD $24 billion annually to the continents economy with demand for fish expected to rise sharply in the lead up to 2030. More broadly, Africas blue economy is estimated to be worth some USD $300 billion.

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