Blue Economy Connect- BEC

BEC brings you an exciting webinar on the “Blue Economy”, in collaboration with the ECOP Program & seasoned experts on the Friday 19th Dec at 4:30pm GMT.
Register here: https://shorturl.at/o4qLO

Join us & learn about the:
All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance: the Blue Intergenerational Program & the Coastal Resilience Project among others; Ocean Action Agenda & 1000 Ocean Startups at the World Economic Forum, as well as their Early Careers Programme; the African Union Blue Economy Strategy & Agenda 2063.

And many others, including how to properly position yourself to benefit from these opportunities: https://shorturl.at/o4qLO

𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 (𝗕𝗘𝗖) 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗮.
Last week, our team, represented by Goddey Atitsogbui, Wilfred Agbi, and Esther Yayera Avorkliya AMNIS had a fruitful engagement with both the Executive Director, Prof. Benjamin Betey Campion & the Director for Marine Fisheries Management, Richner Odonkor.

The discussions centred on youth engagement, capacity development, and innovative collaborations to support Ghana’s fisheries and wider blue economy sector.
We dived deeper into the works, core projects, and ongoing & upcoming activities of both organizations, exploring concrete areas for collaboration & laying the grounds for a valuable partnership.

The Fisheries Commission is the implementing agency of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development.

We appreciate their relentless commitment to leading all development efforts in Ghana’s blue economy, as well as their enthusiasm to support youth initiatives & development in the sector.

We would like to deeply thank the Executive Director, Benjamin Betey Campion for extending us the invitation & demonstrating strong support for us.
BEC is dedicated to building on this partnership to drive innovation, youth engagement, and sustainable development in Ghana & Africa’s blue economy sector!

𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 (𝐁𝐄𝐂) proudly led 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 at 𝐀𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐆𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓. A powerful session of innovation pitches, a youth declaration, panel discussions, and keynote addresses, all centered on driving youth leadership & innovation in the blue food sector.

We’re deeply grateful to our esteemed speakers & panelists: Prof. berchie asiedu, Ato Ulzen-Appiah, Caesar Vulley, & Proscovia Alando for their inspiring contributions.

Special appreciation to Foluke Ar**la (World Aquaculture Society President-Elect) & Sieglinde Gruber (Former EU Commissioner) for honoring us with their presence & wisdom.

A special highlight was the participation of students from St. Thomas Aquinas High School, whose insightful questions & energy embodied the spirit of our BEC High School Concept, nurturing early engagement in the Blue Economy.

Thanks to you all and especially the dedicated BEC Team & vibrant youth for making it a success!

Meet the Speakers & Panelists for the Youth Session- Aquaculture Ghana ‘25 !!

Don’t miss out on this exciting session filled with:
- keynote addresses
- ⁠innovation showcase
- ⁠panel discussions
- ⁠youth declarations

Join us on Friday 31st Oct 2025 at the World Trade Center, Accra.
Or *Virtually*? Register here: https://forms.gle/uBgPnbZMJtUaWXpN6

If you’re participating, join fellow participants here & stay connected: https://shorturl.at/mCD6e

Remember, this session is between 3-5 PM, and right after, there’s the “Blue Food Festival”🎉So you don’t want to miss out 🥂

Blue Economy Connect (BEC) is proud to be co-hosting the 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 of Aquaculture Ghana ‘25 (the biggest Aquaculture & blue food festival in West Africa), led by Chamber of Aquaculture Ghana 🎉 Aquacultureghana 2024

Don’t miss the chance to engage with 100s of youth & key industry stakeholders, exciting panelist sessions, keynote addresses, & witness transformative youth innovation showcases!!

📅 31st October, 2025
📍 World Trade Centre, Accra
NB: You can also participate virtually!

📌 Scan the QR code or register here for free: https://shorturl.at/77bca

🌊 Call for Applications: Youth Innovation Showcase @ Aquaculture Ghana 2025!🌊

Are you a youth (15-35) with an entrepreneurial or research idea for the Aquaculture & Blue Economy, Blue Economy Connect in partnership with the Chamber of Aquaculture Ghana invites you to apply for the Youth Innovation Showcase at the Aquaculture Ghana on the 31st of Oct 2025.

👉 Selected youth will pitch their ideas before industry leaders, policymakers, and development partners, gaining recognition, visibility, support.

📅 Deadline for applications: 3rd October 2025.

📩 Apply here:
https://shorturl.at/Fuaxc

*NB*: Organizations or individual interested in partnering/supporting should contact: [email protected] or [email protected] or +233557710555

𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗮 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗮𝘄- a new Legislation called the Fisheries & Aquaculture Act, 2025 (Act 1146). A big win for Ghana's Blue Economy Sector. What does this mean for the youth & Blue Economy Connect (BEC)?

The Ministry of Fisheries & Aquaculture envisions the Act to transform Ghana's fisheries governance as it aligns the sector with global best practices, protects small-scale fishers, & enhances sustainability across marine ecosystems & communities.

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀 & 𝗕𝗘𝗖:
- An Independent Fisheries Commission: open doors for policy engagement & creates an opportunity for youth inclusion in governance structures. BEC is committed to advocating for youth advisory roles within this Commission.

- Expansion of the Inshore Exclusive Zone (IEZ): extending the IEZ from 6 to 12 nautical miles aligns with BEC’s community & environmental capacity-building mandate. BEC is committed to supporting awareness campaigns to educate and empower the youth and/in coastal communities to become stewards to this reform.

- Aquaculture Promotion & Standards: creating stronger regulations & opportunities strengthens BEC’s advocacy and commitment to promoting innovative models that contribute to just transition & sustainable jobs for youth and women. We have also become confident that youth innovations & aquaculture start-ups will receive better support.

- Combatting Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing: Introducing stronger penalties & a clearer legal framework against IUU fishing provides a platform for youth-led policy advocacy on transparency, vessel monitoring, and reporting systems. BEC is committed to collaborating with relevant institutions to enhance advocacy & awareness.

- Labor, Safety, and Social Protection: Improving welfare & working conditions for fishers and aquaculture workers aligns with BEC’s gender and inclusion agenda, ensuring women and marginalized youth in coastal communities benefit. BEC is committed to collaborating with labor unions, CSOs, and state agencies to monitor compliance and raise awareness of youth rights in the blue economy sector.

Also, although not branded as "Climate Law", the Act supports climate resilience in many dimensions & as an issue of Global concern, BEC is committed to championing youth-led climate-smart innovations & solutions.

To conclude, this Act is indeed a big win for Ghana's blue economy sector & the youth. BEC is duly committed ensuring that the youth are central to the envisioned sustainable development and blue future. We welcome all the support & collaborations!

We thank His Excellency John Mahama, the Hon. Minister for Fisheries & Aquaculture Emelia Arthur and her ministry, the Executive Director Professor Benjamin Betey Campion & the Fisheries Commission, JACOB DOE ADZIKAH & the Chamber of Aquaculture Ghana, and other stakeholder for their great work in championing this course.

𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 is here again fellas & here are some amazing 𝗯𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆 & related sectors opportunities you should check out. You can check out more on our website: https://lnkd.in/eZ9S-rka

1. THREE FULL Erasmus Mundus scholarships for the programme MSc. Aquaculture, Environment, and Society: http://www.emm-aces.org/

2. PhD opportunity with the Aquaculture Sustainability (AquaS) group, University of Melbourne: https://shorturl.at/UxySB

3. Project Assistant- WaterAid: https://lnkd.in/ezCcfyes

* 4. Environmental Affairs Consultant- UNEP (Deadline tomorrow 22nd): https://shorturl.at/ya14O

5. THREE Fully Funded PhDs in Marine Transport at the World Maritime University: https://lnkd.in/e_VtbXae

6. Join the UNDP Future of Work Academy 2025. 6 weeks virtual training: https://shorturl.at/0zBWm

7. Last week to submit your Abstracts for the 2025 Aquaculture Ghana Conference for free!! https://lnkd.in/eNwM6q-9

8. Whitley Awards- 50,000 euros Conservation Grant: https://lnkd.in/e5_EGqPN

9. Individual Consultant to as the ECOP Program Global Coordinator- UNESCO: https://lnkd.in/gS6Ycr8E

10. Apply for the JWH Initiative grants for young people working in the environment and climate movement: https://lnkd.in/dn7vgvb3

𝗕𝗼𝗻𝘂𝘀: Attention Blue Economy related NGOs! Expertise France (WASOP) are designing an upcoming Call For Projects under Pillar II and are running a short consultation with NGOs active in the Blue Economy in Africa. Get your organization on their radar for the Pillar II pilots database by filling this consultation: https://lnkd.in/eJ3yergQ

Barely 2 months ago, we launched our official LinkedIn page to reach like-minded professionals & organizations .. and now, we have already 1000+ followers- what we thought would take ~6months to a year! We’re very happy about the progress and we’re excited for the future!

Thanks to everyone🙏🏾
Stay tuned, connected, and engaged!

It is Opportunities Thursday again. Please check out a list of opportunities here:

1. 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿'𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆: https://lnkd.in/dEuKF8BT

2. 𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱/𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲: https://lnkd.in/femfWXn

3. 𝗨𝗡 𝗢𝗰𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗩𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿: https://lnkd.in/dfX5pjBn

4. 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗔𝗢 𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗲: https://lnkd.in/emd2matf

5. 𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆-𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆: Contact Prof. Bruno at [email protected]

6. 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲-𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗛𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗰𝗲𝗮𝗻: https://lnkd.in/eWr6xXh4

7. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝘁 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: https://lnkd.in/gaRUSZcJ

8. 𝗠𝗰𝗚𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲: https://lnkd.in/d8bmDfT

9. 𝗛𝗲𝗻 𝗠𝗽𝗼𝗮𝗻𝗼 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗺 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗮’𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀: https://lnkd.in/ebmbSE6C?

10. 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗵𝗶𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 (𝗟𝗖𝗢𝗬) 𝗚𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱: https://shorturl.at/Lq8xS

11. 𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱/𝟮𝟲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗶𝗱-𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀: https://lnkd.in/du3dNYm

12. 𝗙𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗔𝗢- 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀: https://lnkd.in/dsG4bSJG

13. 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱: https://lnkd.in/dt47UTRQ

14. 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗢𝗣𝟯𝟬 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀: https://lnkd.in/eAyjATHP

* Bonus: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺 (𝗪𝗙𝗙) 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲 is open to young changemakers (18–35). Apply here: https://lnkd.in/dJXpKrfC

Last week, Blue Economy Connect (BEC) was privileged to participate in the official launch of the Ocean Centres- Ghana, organized by the UN Global Compact Network Ghana and the Lloyd’s Register Foundation.

The event convened key blue economy stakeholders, including Honourable Ministers of State, development partners, technical experts, and organizations driving ocean action. Notable figures such as Emelia Arthur Joyce Bawah Mogtari Beth Elliot berchie asiedu and Hon. Murtala were in attendance.

Two key highlights from Emelia Arthur Minister for Fisheries & Aquaculture, resonated deeply with our mission at BEC:

1. A call to broaden focus beyond the marine domain, to include inland water bodies and other underexplored blue economy sectors. This aligns perfectly with BEC’s mission to spotlight all dimensions of the blue economy and guide youth toward interdisciplinary, systems-based solutions.

2. A strong commitment to supporting innovation and creating space for fresh ideas. This affirms our advocacy for enabling environments where young people can innovate, collaborate, and co-create climate-smart and inclusive blue economy solutions.

At BEC, we are proud to amplify the voices and innovations of youth who are shaping a resilient and inclusive blue economy across Ghana and Africa.

We’re grateful to the UN Global Compact Network Ghana Dr Emmanuel Kofi Mbiah Tolu Lacroix MIoD Rhoda Boateng for the kind invitation.

We look forward to collaborating with the Ocean Centres to co-create transformative, youth-led initiatives that support ocean sustainability and prosperity!!

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗗𝘇𝗶𝘁𝗮 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗽 𝗟𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗕𝗘𝗖!
Earlier this year, Blue Economy Connect (BEC) mobilized over 100 women and youth for a transformative 2-day beach cleanup at Dzita-Agbledomi, in the Anlo District, located at the Volta Region of Ghana.
At BEC, we are proud to continue supporting sustainable coastal development and building a cleaner, bluer future together!

What next? We are working on collaborations with relevant authorities and organizations to do more than just removing the waste, including repurposing the waste, building capacity and empowering the local people, etc. Reach out if you want to join, support, or collaborate with us!