Navigating the Blue Economy: Ocean Governance, Climate Leadership, and Sustainable Development Across Africa and the Indo-Pacific

So let me start by asking you the question of how has your interdisciplinary research in ocean governance and blue economy transitions informed sustainable policy development across Africa, and the Indo-Pacific for that matter?

So now I'm, I'm working as a fishery and aquaculture policy specialist, supporting Norway's development cooperation on ocean issues, mostly in Africa, but also in, uh, South Ame- South America and Asia.

I began my journey from studying development studies in the Netherlands.

During that time, I worked in Tanzania, Uganda.

And first, firstly around the world, water governance issues.

But then I became more interested in fishing, fish farming, and the blue economy, especially after realizing my own root from a aquaculture-heavy region in China.

And also, during the time in Uganda, I worked with FAO Agriculture Center there.

So the FAO means Food Agricultural, um, Agriculture Organization of the United Nation.

So then later on, after touring in Asia Pacific, from Singapore to Australia, I moved to Norway to work as European Research Council postdoc project on seafood trade across the Indian Ocean, especially between Madagascar and China, including species like, uh, sea cucumbers, mud crabs, lobsters, and, uh, tilapia.

So then I also worked ...

During t- during my time in Madagascar, I also worked with regional organizations such as WWF, international labor organizations, on various issues in blue economy initiatives.

So I will say I have a unique triangular positionality here between Norway, China, and Africa, especially Indian Ocean coastal countries and islands.

Now, I also work lots on related stuff from fisheries to aquaculture to mariculture and to mangrove-based blue economy initiatives, to MPAs, to trainings, rural development, regional and institutional mechanism, and the ocean science and the diplomacy link.

That's me.