The Socio-Economics of the West, Central and Southern African Coastal Communities

Preamble

Introduction

People living along the west, central and southern African coast are directly dependent on the health of Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) for sustenance, economic development and their way of life. The Benguela Current LME (BCLME) stretches along the southwestern coast (Figure 1a); the Guinea Current LME (GCLME) along central Africa (Figure 1b); and the Canary Current LME (CCLME) along north-western Africa (Figure 1c). The west, central and southern African coastal populations’ well-being, economies and cultures are interlinked with their ability to properly govern and manage their own activity within these ocean and coastal ecosystems. Over the last 30 years, amid serious conflicts and extensive poverty, these coastal communities, nations and regions have been unable to effectively counteract rapid development, extensive pollution growth, habitat loss and unsustainable use of resources. They have missed opportunities to effectively manage the highly productive ocean and coastal ecosystems and to unlock the economic potential that accompanies sustainable development. 2

This synthesis report sources from three assessments conducted by the Large Marine Ecosystems of the Canary, Guinea and Benguela currents. The publications of these separate assessments ranges in time from 2011 to 2015. As this report aims to support sound decision making by Member States to the Abidjan Convention, it is imperative that attention be brought to new information and data that has emerged since the source reports were completed. An Addendum section was therefore added at the end of this report to: present up-to-date figures on the value of fisheries, tourism and regulating services; present updated information on the status of fish stocks and contextual information regarding marine activities and their link to the African Integrated Maritime Strategy (AIM Strategy 2050). 1 The Addendum is not a comprehensive list as this would fall outside the mandate of the current report. It does however highlight the need for awareness of latest research and data that can further support policy and decision making needs in the region.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Tanzania

Angola

Zambia

Madagascar

Zimbabwe

Mozambique

Namibia

Botswana

Swaziland

Lesotho

South Africa

South Atlantic Ocean

Figure 1a: The BCLME and bordering countries. Source: International Waters Learning Exchange & Resource Network, http://iwlearn.net/iw-projects/789/maps_graphics/benguela-current/view (accessed August 1, 2016). Map data: Google Imagery, 2016 NASA, TerraMetrics.

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