Blue economy definition
The blue economy is a circular economy that is low-polluting and resource-efficient. Based on sustainable consumption and production patterns, significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological shortages, it generates economic value and promotes human well-being and social equality.
It corresponds to the sustainable use of ocean resources in favor of economic growth, the improvement of incomes and jobs and the health of ocean ecosystems.
Origin of the concept : Blue economy
The blue economy has several names, such as blue growth, the ocean economy, and the ocean economy. It is a economic concept, initiated by the Belgian industrialist Gunter Pauli, which covers a new vision of the economic exploitation of the resources of oceans, lakes, rivers and other bodies of water.
It is an effective blend of biomimicry and the circular economy, which aims to revolutionize our consumption and means of production by creating new products and new business models that are both profitable and sustainable, drawing inspiration from the functioning of natural ecosystems to understand how they work and imitate them.
The blue economy acquires its specificity from two sources:
- It is blue: because it is based on the seas, oceans, coastlines, rivers and lakes ;
- It is an economy: because its different sectors of activity contribute to the production, distribution and consumption of wealth.
These economic activities are very diverse and fall within the primary, secondary and tertiary sectors which cover the following areas:
- Sea food products (fishing and aquaculture) ,
- Processing of fishery products ,
- Maritime transport, shipbuilding and port construction ,
- Port operations ,
- The production of marine energies ,
- Marine biotechnologies ,
- Management of submarine cables ,
- Coastal development ,
- Extraction of marine materials ,
- Marketing of sea food products ,
- Maritime insurance and banking services ,
- Nautical services ,
- Coastal and marine tourism ,
- Research and development ,
- Offshore oil and gas services.
Context of the emergence of the concept of blue economy
Faced with our modes of production and consumption, which have led to overexploitation, even depletion of terrestrial resources, coastal states have turned to marine resources which offer great potential for wealth, a source of employment, food, well-being and an important source of growth.
The international community, aware of the criticality of the situation, has mobilized to integrate the concept of the blue economy into global agendas since the Rio Conference in 1992, to materialize in 2015 in the United Nations 2030 Agenda with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Climate change affects all environments on our planet, including oceans, seas, coastlines, rivers and lakes.
Moreover, a large number of people around the world, especially the poorest, depend on healthy oceans for work and food. The majority of them live in developing countries and engage in artisanal capture fisheries. This makes it even more urgent to sustainably exploit, manage, and protect this natural resource.
The health of oceans, coasts, and freshwater ecosystems is critical for economic growth and food production, but it is also essential to combating global warming. Ocean warming and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are leading to ocean acidification, threatening their balance and productivity.
Yet while marine resources drive growth and wealth, human activities are pushing them to the brink of disaster. Fish stocks have declined due to overfishing, caused in part by illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing. Fisheries habitats are also suffering from pollution, coastal development, and destructive fishing practices that hinder the recovery of fish stocks.
Through better fisheries management, investments in sustainable aquaculture, and the protection of critical habitats, it is possible to restore ocean productivity and generate benefits for billions of people in developing countries, while ensuring future growth, food security, and jobs for coastal populations.
Moreover, the oceans are particularly threatened by plastic pollution. Each year, approximately 8 million tons of plastic from land-based sources end up in the oceans. Plastic pollution harms economies, ecosystems, and food security, and could have repercussions for public health. Tackling plastic pollution is complex, multi-sectoral, and country-specific, requiring ending waste by improving solid waste management, creating circular economies (following the “3R” principles: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), and encouraging cleanup and collection of waste.
The principles of the blue economy
The blue economy aims to ensurethe preservation of marine ecosystems while promoting balanced economic growth It is based on a number of principles:
- Defend sustainable management and use of aquatic ecosystems and corresponding resources ;
- Optimize the socio-economic benefits of sustainable development of aquatic environments, with the participation of stake holders, in order to lay the foundations for inclusive growth ;
- Preserve aquatic ecosystems and associated resources by reducing threats and impacts linked to climate change and natural disasters ;
- Ensure integrated management of coastal areas, taking into account the complex interactions between human activities and marine ecosystems ;
- Encourage the adoption of a circular economy in which waste is reduced, recycled or reused ;
- Promote responsible management of marine resources through sustainable fishing, reduction of marine pollution and protection of coastal habitats ;
- Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) relating to the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas and marine resources and ensuring access to water and sanitation for all.
The challenges of the blue economy
The blue economy faces major environmental challenges that threaten the sustainability of ecosystems and compromise associated economic activities. These include :
1- The overfishing
It is one of the most pressing challenges for the blue economy, it undermines the long-term viability of fishing industries, and threatens the food security of communities dependent on marine resources ;
2- The Marine pollution
It manifested by plastic waste, toxic chemicals, and agricultural and industrial waste that threaten the health of ecosystems and marine life. In addition to its impact on fisheries,Pollution has negative repercussions on the tourism sector ;
3- The Loss of coastal habitats
The degradation of coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds compromises marine biodiversity. It also reduces the resilience of ecosystems to environmental changes ;
4- The invasive species
introduced accidentally or deliberately, they can disrupt ecological balances and threaten native species ;
5- The climate change
rising temperatures, changing currents, acidification and rising sea levels are jeopardizing the survival of many species ;
6- The over exploitation of non-food resources
just like fish, sand, minerals and fossil fuels are exploited beyond what is reasonable.
Actions to address the challenges of the blue economy
To overcome these challenges, several actions are available:
- Halt current economic trends that are rapidly degrading ocean resources ;
- Addressing inadequate valuation of natural capital ;
- Moving beyond non-integrated sectoral management approaches;
- Overcoming current economic trends that degrade marine resources ;
- Addressing capacity limitations, particularly in human capital, which are nevertheless necessary for the development of employment and innovation in the blue economy sectors ;
- Overcoming inadequate valuation of natural capital (marine resources) and sectoral management of maritime activities ;
- Move towards a holistic, intersectoral and long-term management approach ;
- Strengthen science, technology, innovation and multidisciplinary research.
Conclusion
The challenge of a new sustainable and resilient blue economy model calls for the restructuring of maritime sectors with the aim of achieving triple economic, social, and environmental performance.
These activities must migrate toward greater sustainability, inclusion, and respect for the environment and ecosystems, through an analysis of the value chain of all sectors associated with the sea, coasts, and freshwater.