Tuqa Jirmo is the Blue Economy Manager for the Western Indian Ocean Program at The Nature Conservancy (TNC), where he leads efforts to integrate sustainable ocean-based livelihoods with conservation goals. His work focuses on supporting coastal communities, governments, and regional organizations in developing inclusive blue economy frameworks that balance economic growth with the protection of marine ecosystems. Tuqa brings over a decade of experience in marine conservation, fisheries management, and community-based natural resource governance. Before joining TNC, he worked with national and international organizations where he coordinated projects on marine spatial planning, sustainable fisheries, and biodiversity conservation along Kenya’s coast and within the wider Western Indian Ocean region. His leadership has been central to building local capacity and advancing policy dialogues on sustainable ocean use. Tuqa holds academic qualifications in marine science and coastal resource management and is deeply passionate about the intersection of people, oceans, and development.