AFMESI Celebrates MPA Day 2025: Protecting Africa’s Ocean Treasures for a Sustainable Blue Future

Date: 1 August 2025
Theme: “Marine Protected Areas: Securing Biodiversity, Empowering Coastal Communities”

Today, the African Marine Environment Sustainability Initiative (AFMESI) joins the global community to celebrate Marine Protected Area (MPA) Day 2025, a moment to recognize, reaffirm, and recommit to the protection of our oceans through sustainable and inclusive marine governance.

🔹 Why MPAs Matter
Marine Protected Areas are ocean sanctuaries; special regions where nature can thrive, fish can breed, biodiversity can recover, and communities can benefit. In the face of climate change, plastic pollution, unsustainable fishing, and habitat degradation, MPAs are essential tools for ocean resilience and the sustainability of Africa’s Blue Economy.

At AFMESI, we believe that MPAs are not just conservation zones, they are hope zones.

🔹 AFMESI’s Role in Advancing MPAs in Africa
AFMESI has been at the forefront of advocating for community-led and science-backed MPAs across African coastlines and inland water ecosystems. Our work with national stakeholders, international partners like IOC-UNESCO, the IMO, the FAO, and grassroots communities ensures that MPA governance reflects local realities, enhances environmental stewardship, and uplifts livelihoods.

We support policies that:
1. Integrate traditional knowledge with marine science
2. Promote gender and youth inclusion in MPA management
3. Strengthen enforcement, monitoring, and education
4. Build climate adaptation through ecosystem-based approaches

🔹 2025 Call to Action
As we mark this day, AFMESI calls on:
-African governments to accelerate the establishment and effective management of MPAs, aligning with the 30×30 global target (protecting 30% of marine and coastal areas by 2030).
-Scientists and institutions to deepen research on MPA effectiveness.
-Coastal communities to embrace their role as custodians of marine ecosystems.
-Private sector and donors to invest in sustainable MPA models and local blue entrepreneurship.

🔹 Inspiring Local Action: AFMESI’s Coastal Outreach
From mangrove restoration projects in the Niger Delta to sustainable fisheries training in coastal communities, and our all-women “Commot Wahala” eco-performance troupe raising awareness through cultural storytelling — AFMESI is building a strong link between ocean protection and people empowerment.

“MPAs must work for nature and for people. This is why AFMESI’s model of inclusive ocean governance is essential for Africa’s Blue Future.”
— Dr. Felicia Chinwe Mogo, President, AFMESI

Join the conversation:
Share your MPA stories with us using #MPADay2025 and #ProtectAfricaBlue

#MPADay2025 #BlueEconomyAfrica #MarineProtection #AFMESI #OceanAction2030 #ProtectWhatYouLove #SDG14 #PeoplePlanetProsperity