http://repository.au-ibar.org/handle/123456789/1552 2026-04-20T16:55:25Z 2026-04-20T16:55:25Z Adiga, Frank http://repository.au-ibar.org/handle/123456789/1846 2026-03-18T03:00:54Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Policy Note: Introducing the Continental Strategy for the Control & Mitigating the Impact of Plastic Pollution on Aquatic Biodiversity & Environment in Africa Adiga, Frank Plastic pollution poses an urgent and escalating threat to Africa’s aquatic ecosystems, undermining biodiversity, human health, and economic stability. Each year, the continent generates approximately 17 million tonnes of mismanaged plastic waste (Lebreton, 2019). If unaddressed, current trends suggest that by 2050, the oceans could contain more plastic than fish by weight, with dire consequences for both nature and people. Plastics now comprise over 90% of floating ocean debris, often laced with toxic additives that threaten food safety, human health, and ecosystem integrity. From freshwater lakes to marine environments, Africa’s rivers and coasts—rich in biodiversity and supporting millions of livelihoods—are increasingly contaminated. For instance, microplastics have been found in 100% of surface water samples from Lake Victoria, which sustains over 40 million people (Egessa, 2020).

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z AU-IBAR http://repository.au-ibar.org/handle/123456789/1845 2026-03-18T03:00:50Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Continental Strategy for Control & Mitigation of Plastic Pollution on Aquatic Biodiversity & Environment in Africa AU-IBAR Africa grapples with a significant plastic pollution crisis, marked by an estimated 17 million tonnes of mismanaged plastic waste generated each year. This pervasive issue inflicts substantial ecological harm upon the continent’s vital marine and freshwater ecosystems, disrupting natural processes and degrading habitats. Furthermore, it results in considerable economic losses, estimated at £2.3 billion ($2.9 billion) annually, severely impacting the millions of livelihoods reliant on key sectors such as fisheries, aquaculture, and tourism. The infiltration of microplastics into freshwater systems and the degradation of crucial coastal habitats compound the threat to biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and overall food security. Globalised value chains and environmental transport mechanisms such as ocean currents and rivers propel the transboundary nature of plastic pollution, amplifying the challenge.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z AU-IBAR http://repository.au-ibar.org/handle/123456789/1789 2025-11-29T03:00:43Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Conserving Aquatic Biodiversity in African Blue Economy: Fact Sheet AU-IBAR This project brief presents a summary of the Conserving Aquatic Biodiversity Project and key outcomes. It notes the long-term outcome of the project's contributions to ensuring that aquatic ecosystems are conserved, restored, and sustainably managed to safeguard aquatic biodiversity, enhance ecosystem services, strengthen the resilience of communities, institutional capacities of AU member states and Regional institutions for effective, inclusive governance of the marine biodiversity and ecosystems, and increase fish food source while attracting investments from private and public sectors.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z AU-IBAR http://repository.au-ibar.org/handle/123456789/1788 2025-11-26T03:00:41Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Progress of Project Implementation Conserving Aquatic Biodiversity in African Blue Economy Annual Report October, 2024 - November, 2025 AU-IBAR The overarching objective of the project was to enhance the Policy environment, Regulatory frameworks, and institutional capacities of African Union Member States (AU-MSs) and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to sustainably utilize and conserve aquatic biodiversity and ecosystems

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Nadiope, Eric Seisay, Mohamed http://repository.au-ibar.org/handle/123456789/1785 2025-11-21T03:01:09Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Why Inland African Union-Member States should Ratify, Domesticate and Implement the Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABBNJ) Agreement : Information Note Nadiope, Eric; Seisay, Mohamed The ABBNJ Agreement presents opportunity especially for the inland African Union Member States to be part of the Global framework regarding management of Marine Biological Diversity as well as the non–Biological Resources. The Agreement (High Seas Treaty) matters to in-land Countries because it establishes equitable benefits and capacity-building for Marine Genetic Resources and sustainable use of Ocean resources, recognizing that all Nations share in the “Common Heritage of Humankind” principle, despite their lack of direct access to the Sea.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Brandolini, Giorgio http://repository.au-ibar.org/handle/123456789/1701 2025-10-08T03:01:00Z 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z

Atténuation de l’impact du changement climatique sur les écosystèmes aquatiques et la biodiversité en Afrique: Note de plaidoyer Brandolini, Giorgio Mokenye, Joel; Seisay, Mohamed; Sagoe, Alberta; Nadiope, Eric L’Afrique émet beaucoup moins de dioxyde de carbone que tout autre continent. Cependant, ce continent, qui compte la majorité des pays et des communautés pauvres du monde, est confronté à des impacts plus graves du changement climatique que d’autres régions en raison de sa résilience plus faible, de sa capacité ’adaptation plus faible et de sa plus grande dépendance à l’égard des secteurs sensibles au climat tels que l’agriculture, la pêche et l’aquaculture pour l’alimentation, la nutrition et les revenus

2022-01-01T00:00:00Z AU-IBAR http://repository.au-ibar.org/handle/123456789/1656 2025-08-09T03:00:58Z 2025-06-01T00:00:00Z

Technical Report: Assessment of Regional Blue Value Chains in small-scale Octopus Fisheries and mechanisms for strengthening Gender dimensions and Climate Change and Environmental considerations in East Africa and South-West Indian Ocean AU-IBAR This consultancy examined the regional value chains, highlighting stakeholder roles and assessing opportunities for gender integration. It also identified environmental threats, particularly the impacts of climate change on coral reef habitats critical to octopus populations. The findings underscore the need for inclusive conservation strategies that recognize and support women’s contributions to sustainable aquatic resource use

2025-06-01T00:00:00Z Fulanda, Bernerd M, Prof http://repository.au-ibar.org/handle/123456789/1655 2025-08-09T03:00:56Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Policy Brief: Small-Scale Octopus Fisheries in the Western Indian Ocean: Strengthening Gender Inclusivity, Climate Resilience and Sustainable Blue Value Chains Fulanda, Bernerd M, Prof Seisay, Mohamed; Achieng, Stephanie; Mokenye, Joel Small-scale octopus fisheries and blue value chains in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region, spanning Kenya, Tanzania, Somalia, Mozambique, Madagascar, Comoros, Seychelles, and Mauritius, are vital sources of food, income, and cultural identity for coastal communities. Women play central roles in harvesting, processing, and trading octopus, yet remain underrepresented in formal fisheries governance structures. These fisheries face intersecting challenges, including overfishing, climate impacts (e.g., coral bleaching, habitat degradation), weak infrastructure, and lack of inclusive policies .

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Tangawamira, Zvikomborero http://repository.au-ibar.org/handle/123456789/1654 2025-08-07T03:01:24Z 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z

Mechanisms for enhancing the effective role and participation of African Union Member States in Regional, Continental and Global aquatic biodiversity conservation and environmental management related Fora or Regimes Tangawamira, Zvikomborero African Union Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) under a project on “Conserving Aquatic Biodiversity in African Blue Economy supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) commissioned a consultation to develop mechanisms for enhancing the effective role and participation of African Union Member States in Regional, Continental, and Global aquatic biodiversity conservation and environmental management related fora or regimes in North, West and Central Africa. This report summarizes the key deliverables from the consultancy

2023-01-01T00:00:00Z Tambinyuo, Frambo Martin http://repository.au-ibar.org/handle/123456789/1653 2025-08-07T03:01:20Z 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z

Status of Ratification, Adoption and Implementation of key Continental and International Instruments related to aquatic biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation and environmental management in the West, Central African Union Member States Tambinyuo, Frambo Martin Seisay, Mohamed; Nadiope, Eric African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) contracted the services of a consultant to undertake the assessment of Global, Continental and Regional Conventions and Agreements (Instruments) related to Environmental Sustainability and Aquatic Biodiversity Conservation to facilitate their Adoption, Ratification and Implementation (West-Central and Northern) Africa Regions; with Cameroon, DR Congo, Ghana and Tunisia as specific case studies for the cited Regions. Effective field work was undertaken within the above-mentioned Countries with the exception of Tunisia. Key stakeholders were identified with additional contacts from AU-IBAR database including Regional Economic Communities (REC`s). We adopted a multi-stakeholder and multi-disciplinary approach to administer a 5-page baseline questionnaire, focused group discussions and one-on-one open-end interviews. We identified three ecosystems, the Guinea Current Large Marine Ecosystem, the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem and the Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem as major ecosystems adjacent to the identified Regions. A total of 54 Instruments were analysed (42 Global and 12 Continental Instruments). The Instruments were analysed using Trans-boundary Data Analysis, Correlation and Triangulation to obtain the rate of adoption, ratification and implementation within the West-Central and Northern African Regions. The study further revealed that, Countries within the Northern Africa Region have ratified, adopted and are implementing almost 80% of relevant Global Instruments relating to environmental sustainability and aquatic biodiversity conservation with almost half the rate to relevant Continental Instruments, while Countries within the Western Africa Regions have ratified, partially adopted and are poorly implementing 43% of relevant Global Instruments on environmental sustainability and aquatic biodiversity conservation against 70% on Continental Instruments with Countries of the Central Africa Region narrowing down with 37% and 55% as ratification, adopted and implemented respective ratios of relevant Global and Continental Instruments. There is need for greater synergy and greater collaboration from the Regional Economic Communities and the African Union and prospective technical and financial partners to reverse the present trends on the rates of ratification, adoption and implementation of relevant Global and Continental Instruments that will ensure enhanced environmental sustainability and a more sustainable aquatic biodiversity life on Planet Earth

2023-01-01T00:00:00Z