Blue Growth Research Articles

Blue Growth Development in the Mediterranean Sea: Quantifying the Benefits of an Integrated Wave Energy Converter at Genoa Harbour

Coastal resilience is often achieved by traditional civil engineering projects, such as dikes and breakwaters. However, given the pressing nature of Climate Change, integrating energy converters in “classical” structures can enhance innovation, and help in pursuing decarbonisation targets. In this work, we present an alternative for integrating a wave energy converter at a vertical wall breakwater, following past successful projects. Our approach is based on a high spatio-temporal wave dataset to properly quantify expected energy production, but also focus on the hours for which other time-dependent renewables cannot produce, i.e., solar. Our analysis evaluates the power performance and assesses the economic parameters and viability of the proposed installation. Our integrated solution shares the main capital with the breakwater and can produce from 390 MWh–2300 MWh/year, displacing more than 1760 Tn of CO2 annually. In addition to power generated, we estimated the payback period for most cases being approximately 10–15 years, but when accounting avoided oil CO2 emissions, the installation is highly attractive with payback in less than 9 years, with favourable financing indicating 3.4 years.

Local perceptions of aquaculture: A case study on legitimacy from northern Norway

This article focus is on the perceived impact that aquaculture industry has on coastal communities in Northern Norway. Here, aquaculture is key industry with natural, social and economic impacts. In natural resource management in general, identifying and monitoring the perceived social impacts can be a useful tool for local planning. In order to ensure the blue growth goals of the Norwegian government and avoid conflict and mistrust in the future, it is important to understand how both the general public and stakeholders perceive the aquaculture industry, how it affects them and its use of space in the coastal zone. Hence, we ask a) how do coastal communities perceive the aquaculture industry and b) is there a legitimacy gap between the blue growth strategies of the Norwegian Government and the public? In order to answer these questions, we lean on theories related to legitimacy and stakeholder's participation. Original data were collected from structured (N = 150) and semi-structured interviews (N = 10) in two coastal communities in Northern Norway (Alstahaug and Brønnøy). Our findings suggest that a legitimacy gap does exist between blue growth goals and fishers in the communities studied, while the general citizen holds a positive attitude towards aquaculture. Insights from this study are useful for local, regional and national decision makers with responsibility for natural resource policies and development efforts.

The Blue Economy–Cultural Livelihood–Ecosystem Conservation Triangle: The African Experience

The concept of Blue Economy (BE) is recognised as central for sustainable development that incorporates socio-economic benefits and ecological conservation. However, in Africa, much of the emphasis on BE is placed on economic gains; as a result, traditional livelihoods and small-scale local operations are outcompeted by international corporations and government initiatives, with little or no regard for social inclusion and environmental sustainability. We argue that successful BE initiatives in Africa accentuate the involvement of local communities and promote sustenance of the natural ecosystem. We define success in terms of the sustainability balance among ecological, social and economic aspects. Drawing on extensive expert experiences, observational data and literature review of case studies across the African continent, we highlight two critical findings. First, large scale BE initiatives prioritise economic gains at the expense of environmental degradation and the exclusion of local communities. Second, using the full spectrum sustainability (FSS) evaluation, we show that successful BE interventions considered ecological, economic, socio-cultural and institutional objectives. Drawing on these case studies, we propose the adoption of a collaborative framework which amalgamates the top-down and bottom-up approaches to BE management. Achieving the goal of successful blue growth in Africa is now even more challenged by the implications of COVID-19 on the BE sectors. Reimagining and rebuilding a resilient BE in Africa post-coronavirus will require a strong political commitment to promoting a balance between economic, social and environmental benefits in line with the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

Implementation challenges of maritime spatial planning (MSP) in Greece under a place-based approach

In the era of blue growth, maritime spatial planning (MSP)—especially MSP using a place-based approach—is absolutely essential if the sustainable management of oceans and seas is to be achieved. This paper therefore presents relevant lessons learnt from a study of a pilot marine area of Greece (the Inner Ionian Sea—Corinthian Gulf region). The study showed that, in order to develop and perform efficient place-based MSP in Greece, it is necessary to strengthen cross-border cooperation among countries that share the eastern Mediterranean Sea, to effectively engage the maritime regime and stakeholders in governance schemes, to collect and manage marine geospatial data, and to have a good grasp of the tools and methodologies that can be used in MSP. Moreover, the present paper identifies suitable criteria for defining appropriate MSP management units, considering ecosystem boundaries, management boundaries, geopolitical boundaries, socioeconomic and cultural characteristics, and land–sea interactions. The process of identifying the optimal MSP management units is underway in Greece; this step is crucial to performing place-based MSP and, ultimately, MSP utilizing the ecosystem-based approach.

Mavi Büyüme Stratejisi: Türkiye nin Kıyı ve Deniz Turizmine Yönelik Bir İnceleme

The Blue Growth Strategy is based on the philosophy that more value can be obtained from managing various maritime activities such as fisheries, marine tourism, blue energy, seabed mining and blue biotechnology rather than managing them separately. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the blue growth strategy in terms of Turkey's coastal and maritime tourism. The research is based on archive/document scanning technique, which is one of the qualitative research methods. As a result, about 20 million tourists have come to the Mediterranean and Aegean Sea coasts of Turkey and sea tourism facilities has welcomed 300,000 cruise tourists and has earned $ 5.9 billion in income from marine tourism. While the marine tourism and fisheries are performed in Turkey among the blue growth sector, the activities on blue energy, blue biotechnology and seabed mining are limited. Shaped in a peninsula, Turkey can provide more economic added value and employment than blue growth potential.

Variables affecting the plankton network in Mediterranean ports

Attention on port waters is increasing since these economically important infrastructures are embedded in the coastal environment and their management needs to be considered in the monitoring programmes of coastal ecosystems. To implement the sustainable development (blue growth) of port areas, a general knowledge on the ongoing processes in their waters needs to be obtained, considering both abiotic and biotic variables. The present study aimed at inspecting the relationships among plankton components to provide insights into the ecology of ports. Seasonal samplings were carried out in three Mediterranean touristic ports where bacterio-, phyto- and zoo-plankton were simultaneously assessed at a large spatial scale and compared with respect to environmental variables and anthropogenic inputs. Factor analysis revealed the effects of load of inland waters, seasonality, water turbulence and hydrocarbon pollution on the planktonic components and zooplankton variability in port sectors characterized by different depths and uses.

Asserting authority through mapping: the politics of re-scaling coastal planning in western Norway

ABSTRACT Integrated coastal zone planning seeks to balance competing interests, with aquaculture representing an increasing pressure fuelled by a dominant discourse of ‘blue growth’. Recently, more regional-level approaches to planning and mapping in the coastal zone have emerged. Maps, however, are not neutral artefacts, but are infused with particular values and meanings, strengthening some interests rather than others. Drawing on a case study from Hordaland in western Norway, we demonstrate how mapping came to play a pivotal role in regional coastal planning – through analysing relevant documents and interviews, we explored how the conflicts between aquaculture and environmental concerns were explicitly visualised and brought to the fore through mapping. This triggered latent conflicts between the local and regional levels of governance, with several municipalities contesting the map. We suggest that the practice of mapping served to strengthen the authority of the regional planning body in mediating between conflicting interests.

Potential and Feasibility of Mytilus spp. Farming Along a Salinity Gradient

Mussel farming, compared to marine finfish aquaculture, represents an environmentally friendly alternative for a high quality protein source and can at the same time be a measure to remove excess nutrients in eutrophic areas. As such, it is considered as a promising ‘blue growth’ potential and promoted within the European Union. To expand mussel aquaculture, new regions have to be considered because there are multiple marine usages, and spatial limitations occur in coastal areas. The brackish Baltic Sea might be considered for expansion of mussel aquaculture. This study focusses on estimated production potential, economic profitability and nutrient remediation potential of mussel farming at different salinities. Four experimental mussel farms were set up along the German Baltic coast at salinities ranging from 7 to 17 psu. Collected growth data was used to calibrate and validate a Dynamic Energy Budget model and to predict the potential mussel production at twelve sites along the German coast. The estimated production and nutrient removal was used to assess economic profitability, assuming two usages of the harvest: human consumption and mussel meal production. Measured mussel specific growth rates increased with salinity from 0.05 mm d-1 in Greifswald Bay to 0.11 mm d-1 in Kiel Fjord. Within 6 months, a one-hectare farm could produce from 1 t (Darss-Zingst-Bodden-Chain) to 51 t (Flensburg) fresh mussels and remove 1.1 to 27.7 kg P and 24.7 to 612.7 kg N, respectively. Mussel farms at sites west of Rostock at salinities >10 psu could produce 5 cm mussels within 18 months, but only farms at Flensburg, Eckernförde and Kiel Fjord became profitable at a farm size of 4 ha (160,000 m³) at current market prices of 2.2 € kg-1. Regardless of the farm size, none of the farm sites could operate profitable if fresh mussels were sold for animal feeding at sales price of 0.06 € kg-1. Yearly nutrient removal costs at a small-scale farm (1 ha) ranged between 162 € (Flensburg) and 4,018 € (Darss-Zingst-Bodden-Chain) per kg nitrogen, and 3,580 € and 88,750 € per kg phosphorus, respectively.

Engaging with Industry to Spur Blue Growth

Boschen-Rose, R.E.; Ferreira, M.A.; Johnson, D.E., and Gianni, M., 2020. Engaging with industry to spur Blue Growth. In: Malvárez, G. and Navas, F. (eds.), Global Coastal Issues of 2020. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 95, pp. 835 – 839. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.Improving marine resource management and governance requires marrying science and socio-economics, which is key to the development of the Blue Economy. For sustainable growth of the Blue Economy (Blue Growth) to occur, there needs to be robust scientific information on the marine environment, detailed knowledge of activities occurring within ocean space, and comprehensive understanding of environmental impacts. To ensure Blue Growth is sustainable into the future, information is also needed on how the marine environment, activities and impacts may change with time, and at relevant spatial scales. ATLAS, a transAtlantic assessment and deep-water ecosystem-based EU H2020 Project, has undertaken pioneering research to understand the environmental status of the North Atlantic deep sea, and the interaction between Blue Growth scenarios and the marine environment. ATLAS research into North Atlantic Ocean circulation, species and habitat connectivity shows that the North Atlantic is changing, which will impact Blue Growth. As marine industries move progressively offshore, ATLAS work on defining elements of Good Environmental Status for deep-water ecosystems will improve the understanding of Blue Growth interactions with the deep-sea. Potential trade-offs to maintain ecosystem services at a sea-basin scale have also been explored through a selection of 12 ATLAS case studies. ATLAS interactions with industry have highlighted opportunities and challenges for Blue Economy sectors, particularly in the context of marine spatial planning. Through interviews, questionnaires and workshops, ATLAS has discussed key scientific findings and Blue Growth scenarios with 10 major Blue Economy sectors and many supporting sectors. This work illustrates the complexities of Blue Growth in the North Atlantic, including spatial needs, synergies and conflicts, and data sharing opportunities. ATLAS-industry dialogue also highlights differences in Blue Economy sectoral expectations, and levels of understanding relating to new policy instruments.

Awash with contradiction: Capital, ocean space and the logics of the Blue Economy Paradigm

Over the course of the past decade, the political economy of global ocean space has entered into a process of significant transformation. In this context, multilateral, corporate and financial attention dedicated to so-called ‘blue growth’ and ‘blue economy’ schemes has been extraordinary; consequentially spawning critical inquiries into the origins and motives behind these initiatives. Offering different analytical interpretations of contemporary blue economy politics, as well as their origins and effects, geographers have entered this debate with a strong focus on institutional discourses and policy agendas. Building on critical political economy of ocean space literatures, this paper emphasises instead the role of capital in appropriating and re-organising the seas according to its own needs. Our primary aim is to elucidate the territorial-economic tensions and geopolitical antagonisms that drive current trends by historicising the emergence of the Blue Economy Paradigm (BEP). The paper shows that a Procrustean political geography of ocean space increasingly poses a barrier to capitalist expansion.

Marine megafauna in the northern Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh: Status, threats and conservation needs

This study investigated the status of charismatic marine megafauna in the northern Bay of Bengal. Specifically, we gathered information on fishers’ perceptions of megafauna in the Bay of Bengal to determine whether fishers view megafauna species as beneficial or harmful and/or under threat. Fieldwork was conducted at five sites from the three coastal districts of Bangladesh. Data were collected through individual interviews (n = 150), focus group discussions (n = 13) and key informant interviews (n = 20). Small-scale fishers interact with marine megafauna as bycatch or intentional harvest, although a small portion of fishers keep the bycatch for sale and consumption or use as ingredients in traditional medicine. Most fishers release marine megafauna back into the water because they are not interested in the catch, they want to obey rules protecting these species or because of social taboos. Fishers have different views on the positive and negative roles of marine megafauna. The perceived positive roles are as indicators of productive fishing grounds, sources of food and livelihoods, and maintenance of ecosystem balance. The perceived negative roles are damage to fishing gear, personal injury, bad omens and predation on target fish. Irrespective of their perceived roles, megafauna groups are vulnerable to the use of fishing gear, pollution, overfishing, bycatch, direct killing, environmental changes and lack of awareness. The present study also summarises the relevant national and international legal obligations relating to the protection of megafauna. The findings reflect a lack of a coherent legal and institutional framework to facilitate conservation of marine megafauna. The results of this study contribute to a better understanding of megafauna status in the northern Bay of Bengal that, in effect, will help define future efforts to enhance marine megafauna conservation in the context of achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 and blue growth.

The importance of the ecosystem approach in the management of the marine environment

The present paper focuses on the importance of the ecosystem approach (EA) for the preservation and conservation of the marine environment. Marine ecosystems are complex entities that contribute significantly to the sustainable well being of people by providing a wide range of goods and services. The economic benefits of these goods and services are enormous and to a large extent impossible to estimate. Thus, due to the extensive and irrational use and overexploitation of marine resources, there is a need for an integrated, holistic, sustainable approach to marine environmental management. The EA requires a deep understanding of ecological, economic, societal, and cultural interactions and is the ultimate tool for implementing and achieving sustainable development. It is the key to balancing the number of users of marine resources and stakeholders in order to promote the roles of the green economy and (sustainable) blue growth (e.g., maritime activities, fisheries, renewable energy, and blue biotechnology). The aim is to use the EA to optimize the benefits provided by the oceans while simultaneously minimizing the pressures exerted by human activities on marine ecosystems.

Science in support of ecologically sound decommissioning strategies for offshore man-made structures: taking stock of current knowledge and considering future challenges

AbstractThe blue growth agenda has spurred an accelerating exploitation and continued development of the coastal and marine environment. This is also driven by the increasing need to generate renewable energy. In most cases, this has resulted in a large number of man-made structures (MMSs) across several soft sediment environments. The nature of these structures ranges from oil and gas installations to harbour walls, anchored buoys, pipelines and offshore wind farms. These structures host fouling communities that are often new to offshore regions, potentially serving as stepping stones for range-expanding (non-indigenous) species and providing habitat and shelter for a variety of marine species. The altered local biodiversity also affects biological and biogeochemical processes from the water column to the seafloor, either directly (e.g. scouring, organic matter export from piles) or indirectly (e.g. closure or displacement of fisheries) and, hence, ecosystem functioning at various spatial and temporal scales. A proper understanding of the effects of artificial hard substrate and the consequences of its removal (e.g. through decommissioning) to marine biodiversity has yet to develop to maturity. This themed article set contributes to the scientific knowledge base on the impacts of MMSs on marine ecosystems with the specific aim to fertilize and facilitate an evidence-based debate over decommissioning. This discussion will become ever more vital to inform marine spatial planning and future policy decisions on the use and protection of marine resources.

Something old, something new: Historical perspectives provide lessons for blue growth agendas

AbstractThe concept of “blue growth,” which aims to promote the growth of ocean economies while holistically managing marine socioecological systems, is emerging within national and international marine policy. The concept is often promoted as being novel; however, we show that historical analogies exist that can provide insights for contemporary planning and implementation of blue growth. Using a case‐study approach based on expert knowledge, we identified 20 historical fisheries or aquaculture examples from 13 countries, spanning the last 40–800 years, that we contend embody blue growth concepts. This is the first time, to our knowledge, that blue growth has been investigated across such broad spatial and temporal scales. The past societies managed to balance exploitation with equitable access, ecological integrity and/or economic growth for varying periods of time. Four main trajectories existed that led to the success or failure of blue growth. Success was linked to equitable rather than open access, innovation and management that was responsive, holistic and based on scientific knowledge and monitoring. The inability to achieve or maintain blue growth resulted from failures to address limits to industry growth and/or anticipate the impacts of adverse extrinsic events and drivers (e.g. changes in international markets, war), the prioritization of short‐term gains over long‐term sustainability, and loss of supporting systems. Fourteen cross‐cutting lessons and 10 recommendations were derived that can improve understanding and implementation of blue growth. Despite the contemporary literature broadly supporting our findings, these recommendations are not adequately addressed by agendas seeking to realize blue growth.

Realising blue growth in the fishing industry in Iceland and Norway: Industry perceptions on drivers and barriers to blue growth investments and policy implications

Since the UN Conference on the Human Environment held in Stockholm in 1972, the discourse has evolved from an initial focus on sustainable development to green and blue growth. Blue growth necessitates a different focus from business-as-usual policy as regards the fishing industry, requiring enhanced research and investment in value generating, clean aquatic-related activities. Given this change, the question emerges of whether the current policy environment is equipped to stimulate increased research and investment efforts within the fishing industry, sufficient to encourage the industry to contribute to blue growth. Do the fishing industries in the Nordic countries realise an opportunity in blue growth in the next several years and what drivers and barriers do they perceive in this regard? This paper relies on in-depth, semi-structured, elite interviews conducted in Iceland and Norway to reveal the perspectives of the fishing industry regarding the perceived drivers and barriers for investing in blue growth. Policy implications and possible directions for enhancing national policies to support the fishing industry in contributing to blue growth are addressed in the discussion.

Marine Spatial Planning and sustainability: Examining the roles of integration - Scale, policies, stakeholders and knowledge

Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) has been heralded as the key means of achieving a more integrated approach to marine use across sectors and spatial scales. Achieving greater integration and coherence in MSP governance arrangements is seen as a way to resolve current problems of marine governance (such as fragmentation) and address future resource demands in a sustainable way. However, there is a lack of clarity and consensus in practice regarding sustainability in MSP, both in terms of MSP governance practices and sustainable resource use. For example, how are we to treat the environment in MSP? Should we conceive the environment as just another sector with interests to be negotiated, or as the very boundary condition that limits possibilities for maritime activities and developments? How do we integrate diverse views on this in MSP decision-making? This is but one example of an integration challenge in MSP important for sustainability. There are numerous others. Integration is intimately connected to the ability of MSP to deliver sustainable marine resource use at various levels and scales. The roles of integration are diverse and interconnected, including those that affect social-ecological integration or land-sea interaction, but also aspects of good governance and social sustainability. The latter include inter-sectoral decisionmaking, stakeholder engagement, cross-border interaction and knowledge pluralism. How integration is exercised in these procedural aspects of MSP is likely to substantively affect outcomes both in terms of sustainable blue growth or the ability to deliver an ecosystem-based approach. Integration as a policy and analytical problem to be addressed has also been discussed elsewhere – most saliently in the fields of sustainable development, ICZM, environmental policy integration, planning theory and socio-ecological systems. While there has been some work on integration in MSP, additional insight is needed: to better empirically ground the roles of integration in MSP, to understand the multidimensionality and interdependencies of integration dimensions and to unpack what ‘balance’ might mean for understanding and pursuing sustainability in different MSP contexts.In response, this special issue aims to explore the roles, problems and opportunities of various types of integration in relation to MSP's sustainability ambitions.

Emerald Growth: A New Framework Concept for Managing Ecological Quality and Ecosystem Services of Transitional Waters

The aim of the present paper is to propose and elaborate on the concept of Emerald Growth as a new framework concept for managing ecological quality and ecosystem services of transitional waters. The research approach combines the longstanding experience of the authors of this article in the investigation of transitional waters of Europe with an analysis of relevant European Union directives and a comparative case study of two European coastal lagoons. The concept includes and reassesses traditional knowledge of the environment of lagoons and estuaries as an engine for sustainable development, but also proposes locally tailored approaches for the renewal of these unique areas. The investigation results show that the Emerald Growth concept enables to extricate better specific management aspects of ecosystem services of transitional waters that fill-in the continuum between the terrestrial (Green Growth) and the maritime areas (Blue Growth). It results from adjusting of both Green Growth and Blue Growth concepts, drivers, indicators and planning approaches regarding durable ways of revitalising coastal communities and their prospects for sustainable development. We conclude that the Emerald Growth concept offers a suitable framework for better dealing with complex and complicated issues pertinent to the sustainable management of transitional waters.

Blue energy and marine spatial planning in Southern Europe

The 2050 target of the European Union to decarbonize the economy by 80–90% will undoubtedly see marine renewable energies playing a key role. The deployment of offshore facilities within the framework of Blue Growth creates tension as competition for other uses of the sea intensifies as economic exploitation of marine resources increases. Marine spatial planning (MSP) is being applied in different Member States, mainly in the North Sea basin, as a way of easing tensions while promoting blue energy. The southernmost marine areas of the continent also have considerable energy potential that, as yet, has not been exploited due to the limitations imposed by a narrow and steep continental shelf, not to mention legal and administrative barriers. MSP processes currently being developed by the application of Directive 2014/89/EU present an opportunity to resolve these conflicts and promote sustainable use of MRE sources in southern Europe. This paper analyzes the marine spatial planning process of five southern European countries - Spain, Greece, Italy, Malta and Portugal - with the aim of determining the degree to which they are incorporating blue energy policies.

Blue economy discourses and practices: reconfiguring ocean spaces in the Philippines

Blue economy initiatives have emerged along marine and coastal areas, seeking to bring the green economy into a ‘blue world’. Often defined as a global policy agenda, blue economy discourses and practices aim to generate ‘blue growth’ by linking poverty reduction, social equality, and marine conservation. While global and national policies have spent decades addressing coastal resource management, broader blue economy discourses and practices seem, on the surface, to promote economic growth strategies for marine conservation. Increasingly, new market-oriented programs and projects aim to tap the financial value of the ocean’s ‘blue capital’, ostensibly fostering income generation and sustainable solutions for conservation finance. Drawing on critical discourse analysis and key-informant interviews across scales, we examine the meanings and practices of the blue economy in Southeast Asia and in the Philippines. As an archipelagic nation, millions of coastal dwellers in the Philippines depend on oceans as a major source of livelihood, food security, and well-being. We examine how multilateral institutions, bilateral organisations, state agencies, civil society organisations, and other key actors represent and enact the blue economy discursively and in practice. We find that oceans are being imagined as an open frontier that must be managed and utilised for both conservation and economic purposes. New territorialisation processes are creating new borders and management structures that often bypass social and environmental safeguards, posing a major threat to coastal dwellers. We conclude that by foregrounding economic development and coastal management, more socially just and environmentally sustainable governance approaches are neglected.

Sea Natural Resource Potential for Blue Growth Policy Implementation in Baltic Sea Region

The goal of the research is to investigate and to identify effective Blue RIS3 implementation measures and best practices in the six participating Baltic Sea regions and to synthesize the findings in one research paper. The analysis aims at finding important aspects and conditions for future Blue Growth and RIS3 implementation in Baltic Sea. This resaerch lead to answerng question – how to susatianably and in the smart way use Baltic Sea natural resurces to create smart and economicaly growing region within European Union.