TRANSPORT minister Prof Makame Mbarawa has stressed the need for enhanced vigilance, cooperation and adopting strategies by Western Indian Ocean countries to address security challenges.

Delivering a keynote speech at the 7th high-level meeting on the implementation of the Jeddah amendment to the Djibouti code of conduct in Dar es Salaam yesterday, he said that participating states have agreed to work together to build national and regional capacity to address broader maritime security issues.

He described maritime security as a foundation for the sustainable development of the maritime sector, citing the Djibouti code of conduct agreed in 2009 and later amended in 2017, as covering a wider range of transnational maritime threats beyond piracy.

“The Jeddah Amendment acknowledges the vital role of the ‘blue economy,’ including shipping, seafaring, fisheries and tourism in fostering sustainable economic growth, food security, employment, prosperity, and stability,” he stated.

He expressed deep concern about the gradual rise in threats of piracy, armed robbery against ships and other illicit maritime activities including predatory fishing in the Western Indian Ocean rim and along the Gulf of Aden coastline.

The crimes pose serious risks to the safety of persons and vessels at sea, as well as to the protection of the marine environment, he said, noting that despite efforts of the member states to implement the Djibouti code of conduct, malicious groups working to undermine regional stability through new threats are prevalent.

The meeting was intended to assess progress in implementing resolutions, address challenges and develop solutions to the issues, he said, pointing at the recent surge in threats in the Red Sea.

It is crucial for member states to collaborate in developing effective strategies to ensure safe maritime traffic in the region, he said, stressing the need to enhance surveillance, improving information sharing and strengthening regional cooperation to combat these evolving threats.

Arsenio Dominguez, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) secretary-general urged member states in the zone to update national laws to strengthen sustainable maritime safety strategies.

They need to collaborate on efforts to eliminate the threats of piracy and armed attacks on ships in the region, underlining that the safety and security of shipping, as well as the maritime environment in the Western Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden, is crucial to global trade.

“Any gaps in the region’s maritime safety and security can have severe consequences for the lives, economies and livelihoods of those dependent on maritime stability,” he said.

Some countries in the region are facing disruptions in food imports due to trade delays driven by conflict, port closures and rising insurance charges on shipping, all of which contribute to soaring food prices, he explained.

“We must maintain safe and secure shipping channels to ensure the continuity of global trade and connectivity for billions of people, especially in light of ongoing attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea,” he added.