Eritrea's Coastal Marine and Island Biodiversity Conservation Project

FOREWORD
With a mainland and islands coastline of more than 3,300 km, Eritrea has a major asset and part of its future is along this coastline, as numerous
activities are linked to the sea, including fisheries, tourism and transport.
Since mid 2005, numerous meetings and national expert knowledge have allowed the preparation of the present document, the “State of the Coast of
Eritrea”, of the Coastal Policy, of the “Integrated Coastal Area Management” Guidance for Implementation. At the same time, the supporting
legislation is under preparation with the Coastal Proclamation and the Coastal Authority Proclamation.
The Eritrea’s proposed Coastal Policy is a framework meant to serve as base for laws, rules, regulations, guides and institutional structures for
sustainable management of the coastal area natural and human-made assets. It was prepared by the participation of practically all concerned
ministries and organisations, inter alia, has four main objectives: sustainable use of the coastal area for multiple purposes, location of coastal
facilities and development projects in consideration of the coastal process, protection of public foreshores or establishing appropriate setbacks (public
property areas) and protection of natural and cultural values of the area. Any Policy is based on principles; in our case the guiding principle, as
clearly stated in the Constitution is- we shall meet our needs without comprising the ability of future generations to meet their needs or we shall
develop without destroying the chances of future generations to develop.
In 1995, the Government of Eritrea adopted integrated opposed to sectoral development approach. The preparation of the Integrated Coastal Area
Management Plan is trying to apply the overall Government development approach to the coastal area as defined above. ICAM is a mechanism that
avoids and mitigates environmental damage through coordinated planning and implementation of activities and minimizes unknown risks using the
precautionary principle. It can also be understood as a tool that enables conservation of ecosystems by managing development activities. In addition to
ecosystem conservation benefits ICAM enhance the value of the coastal assets. ICAM will enable us to define location of facilities and development
activities in line with national needs and sustainability opposed to investor preferences only in the coastal area; and to resolve and mitigates conflict
of interest over the assets.
Implementing specific activities is the responsibility of relevant line ministry, organisation, region, community, civil society, etc., but there will be a
lead ICAM coordinating Authority. After all, as the name indicates, ICAM is coordination and integration of plans and activities of different sectors
for sustainable management of the coastal area assets.
Mainly because of the independence struggle, the coastal area, particularly the marine domain, is considered relatively pristine, and we need to
appropriately address developmental issues in the coastal area to benefit from and safeguard its integrity.
The Minister of Fisheries, H.E. Mohamed Haj Ali
State of the Coast Eritrea, 2006-2007 2