Policy Note on Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning towards supporting Implementation of the African Union Blue Economy Strategy

Africa is abundantly blessed with a coastline of over 30,000 Km, adjacent to vast expanse of oceans and seas. Maritime zones under Africa’s jurisdiction total about 13 million square Kilometers including territorial seas and approximately 6.5 million square Kilometers of the continental shelf. The continent is also endowed with huge networks of rivers, lakes, floodplains, waterways, catchments and wetlands with massive potential for socio-economic growth, advancement and prosperity of the continent. These natural aquatic endowments represent significant opportunities for social and economic development much of which remains untapped, unexploited and underutilized. Some of these opportunities include fisheries, aquaculture, transport, energy and minerals, tourism, rural economic development and increased ecosystem conservation and environmental sustainability.