Alongside a marked rise in the global interest in and defence of our fragile natural environment, there has been a growing worldwide interest in the Blue Economy and how it naturally develops from the Green Economy. This culminated in the ratification and entry into force of the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

This Trade Brief introduces the notion of the Blue Economy and discusses some of the pitfalls, benefits, and opportunities available within the Blue Economy for African countries. The Blue Economy has untapped potential and could possibly be at the forefront of African regional integration, particularly due to the fact of the abundance of oceans, seas and freshwater systems in the African continent. The paper also discusses progress made on the African continent and offers some guidance and ideas for future policymaking.

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