The tiny island nation finds promise in its vast ocean setting.
For the archipelago nation of Cabo Verde, the sea is the essence of its identity and the most promising path to prosperity for its half-million people. Located due west of Senegal in the Atlantic Ocean, Cabo Verde’s maritime domain or exclusive economic zone is almost 200 times greater than the landmass of its 10 volcanic islands, one uninhabited.
That means Cabo Verde is positioning itself as a leader among small island states by harnessing the power of the blue economy apparent in all directions. This ambitious national project aims to leverage ocean resources to drive economic growth, create jobs and enhance the well-being of its citizens. The government even includes a minister of the sea.
Overfishing and marine plastic pollution are among the threats to Cabo Verde’s fragile marine ecosystems, a global biodiversity hotspot, according to a recent international assessment. “Diversifying the country’s ocean economy and building resilience of the marine resources available therefore constitute necessary steps to safeguard Cabo Verde’s prosperity,” said the Ocean for All Initiative of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Cabo Verde’s strategic location on major transatlantic shipping routes makes the country a natural candidate for a maritime logistics and services hub. The Special Economic Zone for the Sea in São Vicente is designed to attract international investment in areas such as ship repair, transshipment and fisheries processing. The nation’s rich marine biodiversity supports a vibrant commercial fisheries sector and sports fishing. In 2024, Cabo Verde renewed an agreement with the European Union that allows 56 European vessels to catch up to 7,000 tons of tuna per year in Cabe Verde’s waters. In exchange for this access, the EU is funding sustainable fisheries management.
Marine tourism and green energy
Stunning coastal landscapes and clear water could expand marine tourism beyond beach holidays to include diving, whale watching and nautical sports. Remote workers can tap a low-cost, six-month digital nomad visa to settle in and soak up the scene. On the islands, the green economy is feeding the blue: solar power plants and wind farms are coming online as the country seeks to generate half its electricity from renewables by 2030 and curb dependence on imported oil. Consistent trade winds and strong ocean currents eventually could expand the energy mix to include offshore wind and wave energy.
Cabo Verde’s blue economy plan includes the Campus do Mar, a center for marine research, technology and education aimed at building the human capital needed to staff new blue industries. Cabo Verde has also actively sought international partnerships with the World Bank, African Development Bank, United Nations (video), researchers in Europe and private sector players to secure financing and technical expertise for projects ranging from port modernization to sustainable aquaculture.
These efforts are already beginning to reshape the nation’s social and economic prospects. The development of the maritime cluster in São Vicente is creating higher-skilled, better-paying jobs in shipyards and logistics, offering opportunities beyond traditional fishing.
In communities on islands like Sal and Boa Vista, initiatives promoting sustainable tourism are empowering local guides and entrepreneurs, ensuring that more of the revenue from tourism stays within the local economy. By formalizing and modernizing the fisheries sector and investing in aquaculture, Cabo Verde is working to increase food security and provide more stable incomes for its fishing communities. The strategic pivot toward a sustainable blue economy is building a more resilient and prosperous future for the people of Cabo Verde, anchored in the natural wealth of the ocean. (Image by Turismo de Cabo Verde)