Campo Marine Park: Turning Conservation Into Prosperity

For decades, environmental conservation was viewed as a restriction on coastal livelihoods. However, at a public lecture organized by a charity organisation in Yaoundé on May 22, 2026, to mark International Day for Biological Diversity, experts turned that narrative on its head. Protecting Cameroon’s marine ecosystems is an economic imperative for human financial stability. "We preserve marine resources to use today and tomorrow," explained Eddy Nnanga, Programme Manager of the Aquatic Environmental Management Association, AQUAMEN, based in Kribi. Nnanga noted that well-managed aquatic systems generate significant capital, rivaling state salaries. "Blue Economy" encompasses sustainable fishing, ecotourism, biotechnology, and renewable energy. Civil society groups are now filling an economic funding vacuum with market-ready innovations. Traditionally, coastal women smoke fish using wood cut from mangroves. Cutting these critical marine nurseries drives down catches and tanks the economy, while the smoke causes severe respiratory illnesses. To break this cycle, AQUAMEN introduced the "Blue Box" - a solar- powered hybrid fish-smoking device. Traditional methods take three days to smoke 45kg of fish; the Blue Box takes just 18 hours, doubling capacity. By shifting to solar energy and using trace coconut husks for flavor, the device saves mangroves. Exhaust pipes channel toxic smoke away, yielding premium smoked fish that commands higher prices. In pilot...