- As the world marks World Maritime Day on September 25, attention turns to the oceans that sustain life and the shipping industry that keeps the global economy moving.
- For Kenya, the stakes are particularly high. The country’s 600-kilometer coastline along the Indian Ocean supports fisheries, tourism, and trade but is increasingly threatened by pollution.
As the world marks World Maritime Day on September 25, attention turns to the oceans that sustain life and the shipping industry that keeps the global economy moving. This year’s theme is “Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity.”
It is a call to reflect on the vital role of oceans in regulating the climate, enabling trade, and supporting livelihoods, while also confronting the responsibility to protect marine ecosystems and the opportunities to build sustainable blue economies.
The importance of shipping cannot be overstated. The world trade by volume transported by sea, from food and medicine to energy and manufactured goods exceeds 80 percent. A lot of jobs depend directly and indirectly on maritime trade, including seafarers, dock workers, and logistics providers.
Yet the industry also contributes to environmental pressures, with greenhouse gas emissions, oil spills, ballast water discharge, and waste posing risks to fragile marine ecosystems.
International agreements like the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) have played a key role in reducing these threats, but the need for continued vigilance and innovation remains.
For Kenya, the stakes are particularly high. The country’s 600-kilometer coastline along the Indian Ocean supports fisheries, tourism, and trade but is increasingly threatened by pollution.
A research by scientists from the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin in 2020
A research by scientists from the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin in 2020 on Marine macro-litter composition and distribution along the Kenyan Coast, shows growing concern over marine litter.
Especially plastics, which remain a significant problem despite policy measures with food packaging products constituting about 91.3% of all branded litter types.
Kenya’s bold move to ban plastic bags in 2017, followed by restrictions on single-use plastics in protected areas, was praised globally as a model for environmental action.
Nevertheless, a policy country profile on plastic pollution published by the Nicholas Institute at Duke University, reveals that inadequate waste management and urban runoff continue to funnel large amounts of waste into rivers and, eventually, the ocean.
This pollution is damaging coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds that are crucial for biodiversity, fisheries, and coastal protection.
A study by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), on the sustainable use of marine resources in Kenya highlights how pollution and overexploitation are undermining these ecosystems, threatening livelihoods of coastal communities that depend on fishing and tourism.
Polluted beaches not only degrade the environment but also diminish Kenya’s appeal as a global tourism destination.
The 2025 theme also highlights the deep interconnection between shipping and broader global initiatives, particularly the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's).
It is closely linked to SDG 14 on life below water, which emphasizes conserving and sustainably using marine resources.
Since the adoption of the SDGs in 2015, Member States have taken concrete steps to strengthen ocean governance, from reducing marine pollution to safeguarding ecosystems.
The theme also connects with SDG 13 on climate action by addressing the role of oceans and shipping in mitigating climate change, SDG 9 on industry, innovation and infrastructure by encouraging investment in cleaner maritime technologies.
It also supports SDG 17 on partnerships for the goals, underscoring the importance of collaboration, innovation, and resilience in addressing maritime and environmental challenges.
Marking World Maritime Day is therefore about more than celebration. It is an urgent reminder of the challenges facing the oceans and the shared responsibility to act.
For Kenya, opportunities lie in scaling up waste management infrastructure, restoring mangroves and coral reefs, adopting clean shipping technologies, and promoting sustainable fishing.
International partnerships through the International Maritime Organization (IMO), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and regional organizations are essential to achieving these goals.
The ocean remains the planet’s greatest regulator, absorbing carbon, moderating climate, and sustaining biodiversity. Shipping will continue to drive global trade and connect economies.
The challenge is ensuring that both can thrive together. World Maritime Day 2025 reminds us that protecting the ocean is not only an obligation but also an opportunity to secure a sustainable future for communities in Kenya and around the world.
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