The Southern African Regional Cooperation Group on Safety of Navigation and Marine Environment Protection (Sagnep), a marine environment protection and sea navigation security-focused group, said Africa must protect the natural resources found along its 26,000 nautical mile coastline.
At the group's fourth Sagnep conference in Mombasa, the group's chair Karl Otto said marine environment benefits many African states.
"The marine environment has so many uses. Shipping, fishing and tourism depend largely on it," he said.
Otto said the role of the group is to work with member states in establishing policies that will help in maximising the benefits from the marine environment.
He also said the group is seeking to work with countries that border the ocean to invest in the marine industry and ensure the environment is protected.
Source: www.bairdmaritime.com.
