The 4th edition of the Mombasa Ocean Festival has kicked off.
The festival, coordinated by the Alliance Francaise de Mombasa with the support of the delegation from the European Union, Embassies of France and Germany, CMA CGM, the County Government of Mombasa and other stakeholders like the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) and Wildlife Clubs of Kenya, kicked off with calls to preserve the marine ecosystem.
“When talking about protecting the environment, people always think about green and not blue. Water is also important,” said EU Ambassador to Kenya Henriette Geiger.
Speaking during day one of the festival, Mombasa County Executive Committee Member for Blue Economy Kibibi Abdalla Khamis said the ocean was a very crucial part of the lives of Mombasa residents.
“65 percent of Mombasa residents depend on the ocean, whether directly or indirectly, for their livelihoods. That is why, as a county government, we have put measures in place to ensure the preservation of the marine ecosystem. Starting from mangrove conservation to the coral reefs and sea grass,” said CEC Khamis.
She called on residents to stop polluting the ocean and cutting down mangroves.
“Mangroves are breeding grounds for fish; they also help in regulating ocean temperatures and preventing erosion,” said Kibibi.
The five-day festival comprises a series of cultural and educational activities aimed at informing the public about the impact of human actions on the ocean.
“Today, we are celebrating the ocean. The objective of the festival is to sensitize the community about the importance of protecting the ocean,” said Lucas Malcor, Director of Alliance Francaise de Mombasa.
The festival kicked off at Nyali Cinemax with Ocean Movie Day, which involved the screening of ‘If Turtles Could Talk’ and ‘One Breath Around the World’ films to more than 300 learners from public and private schools.
“It is five days, five venues. Today we are at Nyali Cinemax, tomorrow we will be at Westerwelle Start-up Haus, on Thursday we will be back at Alliance Francaise for the Science Cafe in partnership with KMFRI, then Friday, which will be the main day, we will be at Swahilipot Hub for climate talks and discussions about the ocean. Saturday, we will be at Little Theatre Club for family-friendly activities,” said Director Malcor.
Meanwhile, Wildlife Clubs of Kenya Coast Region Head, Tsofa Mweni, has called on National and County governments, especially those along the coast, to continue creating awareness and putting up infrastructure for proper disposal of waste so that they do not end up in the ocean.
“We have not been able, as a country, to address the issue of waste management properly. People still use plastics and throw them anyhow, and when it rains, as it is currently, a lot of this waste goes directly into the ocean,” said Mweni.
Coast residents have been urged to protect the marine ecosystem, not only for marine life but the daily livelihoods of those living along the coastline.
“Our marine environment is so important and I hope that through this festival, we will create that awareness in Kenya and beyond,” said EU Ambassador to Kenya Henriette Geiger.
“It is not only about fishing or tourism, there are many things that can be done in the ocean, the only precondition is protecting the environment,” she added.