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Blue economy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ship with cranes
Maritime transport is a part of the blue economy.

In economics, blue economy refers to the economic exploitation of aquatic ecosystems such as oceans, lakes, and rivers, and their coasts.[1] Similarly to green economy, which focuses mostly on land-based activities, blue economy emphasises sustainability in the use of natural resources. Other concepts that refer to partly overlapping areas but usually lack the aspects of sustainability include ocean economy, marine economy, coastal economy, and maritime economy.[2][3]

The interpretations of what constitutes the blue economy vary among organizations. However, the term is generally used in the scope of international development when describing a sustainable development approach to coastal resources and ocean development. This can include a wide range of economic sectors, from the more conventional fisheries, aquaculture, maritime transport, coastal, marine and maritime tourism,[4] or other traditional uses, to more emergent activities such as coastal renewable energy, marine ecosystem services (i.e. blue carbon), seabed mining.

Similarly to greenwashing, the term bluewashing has been proposed to describe false or misleading claims regarding an action's environmental impact on aquatic environments.[5]

Definitions

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There is no universally agreed definition of what comprises the blue economy.[1][3] The umbrella of blue economy includes a wide range of economic sectors and activities including marine transport, offshore renewable energies, ship building, cruise tourism and fishing.[3]

By international organisations

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According to the World Bank, the blue economy is the "sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of ocean ecosystem."[6]

European Commission defines it as "all economic activities related to oceans, seas and coasts. It covers a wide range of interlinked established and emerging sectors."[7]

The Commonwealth of Nations considers it "an emerging concept which encourages better stewardship of our ocean or 'blue' resources."[8]

Conservation International adds that "blue economy also includes economic benefits that may not be marketed, such as carbon storage, coastal protection, cultural values and biodiversity."[9]

According to the United Nations, the blue economy consists of "range of economic sectors and related policies that together determine whether the use of ocean resources is sustainable."[10] They also connect the term to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly SDG 14, which focuses on life below water.[11]

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) uses the term ocean economy to describe any economic activity taking place on, using, or being connected in any way to the ocean.[12]

The World Wildlife Fund proposed defining a sustainable blue economy through a set of principles. These state that the blue economy should:

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Blue finance

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Blue finance refers to financial processes which reduce the carbon footprints of ocean-related economic activities and affect the marine environment positively. It is part of the broader framework of sustainable finance.[15]

According to the World Economic Forum, US$175 billion of annual investment in blue finance would be needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) most relevant to the blue economy (SDG 14, 'Life Below Water'). However, the current investment is far below what is needed for a sustainable use of oceans, and number 14 is the most underfunded one of the 17 SDGs.[15] Blue finance can also be directed at funding approaches which harness the ocean for climate change mitigation and adaptation. These include developing marine renewable energies (for example offshore wind turbines) and zero-emissions shipping, protecting and restoring coastal ecosystems (including mangrove forests, seagrass meadows).[16][17]

Blue justice

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This section is an excerpt from Blue justice.[edit]

Blue Justice is a critical approach examining how coastal communities and small-scale fisheries are affected by blue economy and "blue growth" initiatives undertaken by institutions and governments globally to promote sustainable ocean development. The blue economy is also rooted in the green economy and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.[18] Blue Justice acknowledges the historical rights of small-scale fishing communities to marine and inland resources and coastal space; in some cases, communities have used these resources for thousands of years. Thus, as a concept, it seeks to investigate pressures on small-scale fisheries from other ocean uses promoted in blue economy and blue growth agendas, including industrial fisheries, coastal and marine tourism, aquaculture, and energy production, and how they may compromise the rights and the well-being of small-scale fisheries and their communities.

Sectors

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Established and emerging sectors in the blue economy

The blue economy encompasses a wide range of economic sectors. The European Commission has grouped these sectors into 12 categories:

Blue biotechnology

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Blue biotechnology involves using advanced technologies to extract and process biological materials from marine plants and animals and produce commercial goods such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food.[20][21] In the European Union, the sector was estimated to account for 2,500 jobs, producing a gross value added of  317 million euros in 2023.[20]

Algaculture

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Algae species, which include macroalgae (seaweeds) and microalgae (single-cell organisms such as spirulina), play a crucial role in aquatic ecosystems. They support underwater life by acting as a food source, producing oxygen, and providing a habitat for animals to live in.[22] Humans use algae for a variety of purposes, including as food, in nutritional supplements, pharmaceutical and biomedical products.[23] Algae as food is also explored as a sustainable protein alternative that could contribute to global food security.[24][25] Seaweed grows 10 times faster than land plants which makes algae farming (algaculture) an ideal food alternative to traditional agriculture.[26]

From an economic perspective, the algae sector is part of the blue bioeconomy. In member states such as France, Spain and Portugal, which produce the highest amount of algae, farming generated more than 10 million euros in 2022. The EU Algae Initiative set out the goal of producing 8 million tonnes of seaweed yearly by 2030.[24]

Coastal and maritime tourism

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Shark watching, or looking at sharks in their natural habitat, is estimated to generate over US$314 million annually and create over 10,000 jobs globally.[27] Ecotourism, including shark diving, can benefit local communities economically by increasing the number of tourists and duration of visits.[28] Tensions exist between shark ecotourism and shark fisheries as both sectors compete for the same resource, and overfishing makes shark sightings less likely.[29]

Environmental aspects

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Ecosystems

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The blue economy harnesses the resources of a number of ecosystems, which are complex interactions of animals and plants in a specific landscape, for example the oceans.[11] The benefits humans derive from these are known as ecosystem services.[30]

Mangrove forests

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Mangrove forests play an important role in sustainable blue economy.

Mangrove forests are made up of trees and shrubs that grow in coastal areas which are above water level during low tide but are submerged during high tide (known as intertidal zones).[31] Mangrove forests provide a wide range of benefits to coastal communities and the local blue economies.[32] By providing food and shelter, mangroves function as breeding and nursery grounds for fish. In effect, this leads to a higher abundance of fish, crustaceans, and shellfish around these areas which local small-scale fisheries rely on for food and livelihood.[33] With more than 4 million mangrove fishers around the world, mangrove forests are crucial for the food security of multiple countries.[34][33] Mangrove forests also help mitigate climate change by absorbing carbon from the atmosphere, offer protection from natural hazards such as tsunamis and tropical cyclones, and reduce coastal erosion by strengthening the soil.[35] Despite their beneficial properties, mangrove forests have been shrinking around the world. Since the 2000s, 0.5% of mangrove forests have been lost each year on average.[36]

Potential

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Beyond traditional ocean activities such as fisheries, tourism and maritime transport, blue economy entails emerging industries including renewable energy, aquaculture, seabed extractive activities and marine biotechnology and bioprospecting.[37] Blue economy also encompasses ocean ecosystem services that are not captured by the market but provide significant contribution to economic and human activity. They include carbon sequestration, coastal protection, waste disposal, and the existence of biodiversity.[37]

There have been various methodologies proposed on how to estimate the contribution of the blue economy to GDP and the labor market at a regional level.[38]

Around the world

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European Union

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In 2023, the EU's blue economy provided jobs for nearly 4.9 million people and contributed to the GDP by €263 billion in gross value added.[39]

Philippines

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As an island country, the Philippines relies heavily on the blue economy. Relevant sectors in the country include fisheries, shipping, renewable energy, and tourism. The blue economy made up nearly 4% of gross domestic product (GDP) of the country in 2024. It is largely financed through foreign aid. However, only 2% of all development aid received by the country is used to fund the blue economy.[40]

See also

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References

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  1. 1 2 McBain, Darian; Reitmeier, Lea; Kyriacou, Georgina (December 11, 2024). "What is the blue economy?". Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  2. ↑ Yuan, He; Failler, Pierre (February 13, 2025). "Defining the Blue Economy – in a language functional approach". Maritime Studies. 24 (1) 14. Bibcode:2025MarSt..24...14Y. doi:10.1007/s40152-025-00403-6. ISSN 1872-7859.
  3. 1 2 3 Gourvenec, Susan; Dbouk, Wassim; Sturt, Fraser; Teagle, Damon A.H. (October 1, 2025). "Pathways to a blue economy". Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability. 77 101570. Bibcode:2025COES...7701570G. doi:10.1016/j.cosust.2025.101570.
  4. ↑ Sharafuddin, Mohammed Ali; Madhavan, Meena (2020). "Thematic Evolution of Blue Tourism: A Scientometric Analysis and Systematic Review". Global Business Review. 25 (2): 533–554. doi:10.1177/0972150920966885. ISSN 0972-1509. S2CID 228811331.
  5. ↑ Kılıç, Arınç Onat (September 25, 2024). "Beyond bluewashing: A critical examination of labeling blue bonds". Marine Policy. 163 106152. Bibcode:2024MarPo.16306152K. doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2024.106152.
  6. ↑ "What is the Blue Economy?". THE WORLD BANK. June 6, 2017. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  7. ↑ "The 2018 Annual Economic Report on EU Blue Economy". European Union: 5. 2018. ISBN 978-92-79-81757-1.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: periodical has ISBN (link)
  8. ↑ "Blue economy | The Commonwealth". thecommonwealth.org. March 21, 2018. Archived from the original on October 19, 2018. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  9. ↑ Bertazzo, Sophie (March 7, 2018). "What on Earth is the 'blue economy'? – Human Nature – Conservation..." Human Nature – Conservation International Blog. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  10. ↑ United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA). "Diving into the blue economy". United Nations (UN). Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  11. 1 2 "Sustainable blue economy". UN Environment Programme (UNEP). December 13, 2023. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  12. ↑ OECD (March 31, 2025). The Ocean Economy to 2050. OECD Publishing. doi:10.1787/a9096fb1-en. ISBN 978-92-64-43413-4.
  13. ↑ "Principles for a Sustainable Blue Economy" (PDF). World Wildlife Fund (WWF). 2018.
  14. ↑ "Getting It Right in a New Ocean: Bringing. Sustainable Blue Economy Principles to the Arctic" (PDF). World Wildlife Fund (WWF). 2018.
  15. 1 2 McBain, Darian; Reitmeier, Lea; Kyriacou, Georgina (December 11, 2024). "What is blue finance?". Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  16. ↑ Robinson, Carol; Sabine, Christopher; Isensee, Kirsten (June 3, 2025). Pendleton, Linwood (ed.). "Providing solutions to mitigate, adapt, and build resilience to the effects of climate change". ICES Journal of Marine Science. 82 (6) fsae170. doi:10.1093/icesjms/fsae170. ISSN 1054-3139.
  17. ↑ Almeida, Elena; Reitmeier, Lea (August 2024). The blue imperative: understanding interactions between the ocean, climate and economy (PDF). London: CETEx and Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, London School of Economics and Political Science.
  18. ↑ Isaacs, M. (23 July 2019). Blue Justice for small-scale fisheries. Retrieved 26 July 2019, from Plaas website: https://www.plaas.org.za/blue-justice-for-small-scale-fisheries/
  19. ↑ "EU Blue Economy Sectors". EU Blue Economy Observatory. European Commission. Retrieved June 14, 2026.
  20. 1 2 "Blue Biotechnology - EU Blue Economy Observatory - European Commission". EU Blue Economy Observatory. European Commission. May 21, 2026. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  21. ↑ OECD (September 26, 2017). Marine biotechnology: Definitions, infrastructures and directions for innovation. OECD Science, Technology and Industry Policy Papers. Vol. 43. doi:10.1787/9d0e6611-en.
  22. ↑ Motshekga, Sarah Constance; Temane, Lesego Tabea; Orasugh, Jonathan Tersur; Ray, Suprakas Sinha (December 10, 2023), "Marine Algae and Their Importance", in Soni, Ravindra; Suyal, Deep Chandra; Morales-Oyervides, Lourdes; Fouillaud, Mireille (eds.), Current Status of Marine Water Microbiology, Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore, pp. 67–124, doi:10.1007/978-981-99-5022-5_5, ISBN 978-981-99-5021-8, retrieved May 5, 2026
  23. ↑ Araújo, Rita; Vázquez Calderón, Fatima; Sánchez López, Javier; Azevedo, Isabel Costa; Bruhn, Annette; Fluch, Silvia; Garcia Tasende, Manuel; Ghaderiardakani, Fatemeh; Ilmjärv, Tanel; Laurans, Martial; Mac Monagail, Micheal; Mangini, Silvio; Peteiro, César; Rebours, Céline; Stefansson, Tryggvi (January 27, 2021). "Current Status of the Algae Production Industry in Europe: An Emerging Sector of the Blue Bioeconomy". Frontiers in Marine Science. 7 626389. Bibcode:2021FrMaS...726389A. doi:10.3389/fmars.2020.626389. ISSN 2296-7745.
  24. 1 2 European Commission. Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.; EUMOFA. (2023). European Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture Products (ed.). Blue bioeconomy report. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union. doi:10.2771/223072. ISBN 978-92-76-60087-9.
  25. ↑ Thakur, Ankita; Sharma, Divyanshi; Saini, Rajni; Suhag, Rajat; Thakur, Dhruv (June 28, 2024). "Cultivating blue food proteins: Innovating next-generation ingredients from macro and microalgae". Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology. 60 103278. doi:10.1016/j.bcab.2024.103278.
  26. ↑ Zhang, Lizhu; Liao, Wei; Huang, Yajun; Wen, Yuxi; Chu, Yaoyao; Zhao, Chao (October 13, 2022). "Global seaweed farming and processing in the past 20 years". Food Production, Processing and Nutrition. 4 (1) 23. doi:10.1186/s43014-022-00103-2. ISSN 2661-8974.
  27. ↑ Cisneros-Montemayor, Andrés M.; Barnes-Mauthe, Michele; Al-Abdulrazzak, Dalal; Navarro-Holm, Estrella; Sumaila, U. Rashid (May 30, 2013). "Global economic value of shark ecotourism: implications for conservation". Oryx. 47 (3): 381–388. doi:10.1017/S0030605312001718. ISSN 0030-6053.
  28. ↑ Pires, Natalia M.; Garla, Ricardo C.; Carvalho, Adriana R. (June 22, 2016). "The economic role of sharks in a major ecotourism archipelago in the western South Atlantic". Marine Policy. 72: 31–39. Bibcode:2016MarPo..72...31P. doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2016.06.016.
  29. ↑ Eriksson, Björn; Medeiros-Leal, Wendell (April 15, 2026). "Watching or catching sharks: Tracing the emergence of a marine resource conflict in the North Atlantic". Marine Policy. 190 107146. Bibcode:2026MarPo.19007146E. doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2026.107146.
  30. ↑ "Ecosystem Services". United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  31. ↑ "Mangroves – surviving in "the harsh space between the tides"". International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). May 24, 2017. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  32. ↑ Banerjee, Anamitra; Agarwala, Nitin (2026), "Importance of Mangroves in Blue Economy", in Lange Salvia, Amanda; Eustachio, João; Dinis, Maria Alzira Pimenta (eds.), Handbook of Sustainable Blue Economy, Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland, pp. 1525–1551, doi:10.1007/978-3-032-19927-0_63, ISBN 978-3-032-19926-3, retrieved June 11, 2026
  33. 1 2 Howai, Niko (2019). "Provisioning services of mangroves". Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  34. ↑ zu Ermgassen, Philine S.E.; Mukherjee, Nibedita; Worthington, Thomas A.; Acosta, Alejandro; Rocha Araujo, Ana Rosa da; Beitl, Christine M.; Castellanos-Galindo, Gustavo A.; Cunha-Lignon, Marília; Dahdouh-Guebas, Farid; Diele, Karen; Parrett, Cara L.; Dwyer, Patrick G.; Gair, Jonathan R.; Johnson, Andrew Frederick; Kuguru, Baraka (December 6, 2020). "Fishers who rely on mangroves: Modelling and mapping the global intensity of mangrove-associated fisheries". Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 247 106975. Bibcode:2020ECSS..24706975Z. doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2020.106975.
  35. ↑ Howai, Niko (2019). "Regulating and cultural services of mangroves". Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  36. ↑ Howai, Niko; Bian, Alice; De Guzman-Mortiller, Arnica; Robinson, Elizabeth (May 20, 2026). Mangrove livelihoods in Palawan, Philippines: individual and joint household preferences with exemption interviews (PDF). Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment Working Paper No. 448. London: London School of Economics and Political Science. doi:10.21953/researchonline.lse.ac.uk.00138521. ISSN 2515-5717.
  37. 1 2 "The Potential of the Blue Economy: Increasing Long-term Benefits of the Sustainable Use of Marine Resources for Small Island Developing States and Coastal Least Developed Countries" (PDF). World Bank: ix. 2017.
  38. ↑ Haddad, Eduardo; Araújo, Inácio (2025). "Shades of blue: the regional structure of the ocean economy in Brazil". npj Ocean Sustainability. 4 (15) 15. Bibcode:2025npjOS...4...15H. doi:10.1038/s44183-025-00112-x.
  39. ↑ European Commission. Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.; European Commission. Joint Research Centre. (2025). The EU blue economy report 2025. LU: Publications Office. doi:10.2771/2333701.
  40. ↑ Bian, Alice; Howai, Niko; Cayetano, Cristobal; Creencia, Lota; Gibb, Maxine; Robinson, Elizabeth (2026). Scaling up blue finance to support mangrove-based livelihoods in the Philippines (PDF) (Report). London School of Economics and Political Science. doi:10.21953/researchonline.lse.ac.uk.00138528.
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