Strategies for a Sustainable Ocean Economy

Countries around the world, from small island states to larger, coastal nations, are increasingly unveiling national blue economy strategies (also sometimes referred to as ocean economy strategies, marine spatial plans, blue growth plans or blue economy road maps). These plans present a vision for sustainable economic growth through the responsible use of oceanic resources. Essentially, governments are looking to bridge the gap between today’s maritime industries and the untapped potential of their waters. The goal is to unlock new economic opportunities while safeguarding marine ecosystems, recognising the vital contribution oceans and waterways make to the planet. 

What is a blue economy strategy?

A blue economy strategy is a national roadmap for developing ocean and coastal resources in a sustainable manner. It often starts with an assessment of where things stand: i.e. the current contribution of marine sectors to jobs and GDP, and the state of existing infrastructure like ports and fleets. It then envisions where things could go: i.e. new industries or improvements that could boost growth without degrading the ocean’s health. 

A central part of this process is performing a gap analysis to compare the current state of maritime industries to what might be achieved under optimal, sustainable practices. Often, it reveals underdeveloped opportunities. For example, many small island states find that while they rely heavily on a handful of ocean industries (e.g., tourism and fishing), other opportunities like aquaculture or renewable energy remain largely untapped. By quantifying such gaps, the strategy can set targets, for example increasing aquaculture production by a certain amount, or installing a given capacity of offshore wind power. Once having done so, it can then outline the steps required to meet these.

In Sierra Leone’s recent Blue Economy Strategic Framework and National Action Plan, leaders noted that the nation had only been exporting raw fish and shrimp with little value addition, due to outdated practices and infrastructure. The strategy therefore includes modernising the fisheries sector to boost exports, an opportunity with an estimated annual earning potential of $700 million. Similarly, the plan identified gaps in coastal transportation and scientific research, leading to actions for improving marine transport links and investing in ocean science. By addressing these gaps, Sierra Leone aims to diversify its economy and become a more resilient coastal nation.

Cases such as this illustrate that countries are using blue economy strategies to identify where infrastructure is lacking, where governance needs updating and where human capacity can be strengthened. The end goal of these strategies is to ultimately align the nation’s capabilities with the blue economy’s vast potential. As noted by the World Economic Forum, today’s ocean economy spans multiple high-growth sectors and unlocking its full potential is a “multi-trillion-dollar” opportunity. National strategies serve as the roadmap to seize this opportunity in a coordinated, sustainable manner. 

Key sectors covered in blue economy strategies

Most national blue economy strategies cover a range of ocean-related sectors, usually including both well-established industries and emerging ones. Fisheries and aquaculture almost always sit at the centre of a blue economy strategy. Governments look to strengthen the sustainable management of wild fisheries while encouraging the expansion of aquaculture. The focus is typically on improving governance, protecting stocks, and supporting production methods that can help meet rising global demand for seafood, as well as addressing food security concerns.

Maritime transport, ports, and shipping are another recurring theme. With around 80% of global trade moving by sea, strategies often highlight the need to upgrade port infrastructure and logistics systems, while also committing to greener operations. This can mean investing in cleaner fuels, more efficient technologies, or steps to decarbonise both ships and port facilities. 

Tourism also features strongly. Many plans see opportunities in developing marine and coastal tourism that provides jobs and revenue, from small-scale eco-tourism ventures around reefs to better management of large-scale cruise visits. The priority is ensuring growth in tourism does not come at the expense of the natural environments on which it depends.

Renewable energy is increasingly visible in national agendas. Offshore wind farms, tidal energy and wave power are seen as significant opportunities to reduce carbon emissions and diversify energy sources. The European Union, for example, has made the expansion of ocean renewables a key pillar of its blue economy agenda.

Some strategies also highlight the potential of marine biotechnology and other emerging industries. These include deriving products from marine organisms or exploring seabed resources. While not every country pursues these options, they reflect the more innovative edge of the blue economy and the search for new ways to create value from ocean resources. 

Finally, many strategies cut across sectors to address infrastructure and climate resilience. This might involve building or upgrading seawalls, ports, and wastewater systems, alongside efforts to restore mangroves, coral reefs, and other natural defences. By integrating climate adaptation measures, countries aim to protect coastal communities and industries from rising seas and other climate-related risks.

It’s worth noting that these sectors are interdependent and a truly holistic strategy will address their overlaps. For example, how tourism and fisheries both depend on healthy coral reefs, or how port development can go hand-in-hand with coastal habitat restoration.

The African Union’s Africa Blue Economy Strategy took an integrated approach, covering traditional areas like fisheries, aquaculture, shipping, and tourism, alongside emerging areas like marine energy and biotechnology, plus cross-cutting issues of governance and finance. The European Union’s blue economy framework similarly spans traditional sectors like fisheries and shipping, as well as emerging fields such as renewable energy and blue biotechnology.  In all cases, there is an emphasis is on introducing sustainability measures across these sectors. This could mean innovating new solutions (e.g., algae farming or electrification of vessels) or simply enforcing better management of existing activities.

Global Examples of Blue Economy Strategies

Small Island Developing States

These ocean-dependent nations have been pioneers in blue economy thinking. For example, Seychelles charted a Blue Economy Roadmap in 2018 to diversify beyond tourism and tuna fishing. Likewise, Mauritius, has made the ocean economy a pillar of its development. setting a target to double the contribution of its blue economy to GDP by 2025. This year, Mauritius took a further step by inviting international consultants to help craft a new, comprehensive blue economy strategy. This shows the country’s commitment to aligning its various maritime sectors (e.g., fisheries, ports, tourism, energy, etc.) under a unified sustainable growth plan.

Many Caribbean and Pacific islands are pursuing similar initiatives, often with support from international organisations. The World Bank, for example, supports island nations in developing sustainable ocean plans that create jobs and protect nature. These countries view the blue economy as a path to greater self-reliance and climate adaptation, capitalising on their vast maritime zones.

Africa

Across Africa, where over 30 countries have coastlines, blue economy strategies are emerging as tools for both development and conservation. Kenya helped kickstart the momentum by hosting a global Sustainable Blue Economy Conference in 2018, after which the African Union (AU) formulated its continental Blue Economy Strategy in 2019. Many African coastal states are now creating national plans in line with that AU blueprint. For example, in 2024 Zambia (though landlocked, it applied the concept to its lakes and rivers) launched its National Blue Economy Strategy and Action Plan to harness its abundant freshwater resources for sustainable economy growth. 

Europe

Europe’s approach to the blue economy is closely tied to its environmental and innovation agendas. The European Union launched an updated sustainable blue economy strategy as part of its Green Deal, aiming to transform maritime sectors for a carbon-neutral future. The EU strategy emphasises decarbonising shipping, expanding offshore renewable energy, innovating in areas like algae farming and biotechnology, and ensuring coastal communities thrive. For example, it sets goals to support sustainable fisheries and aquaculture for food security, while also strengthening the maritime industrial base and modernising ports. European coastal countries, such as Spain and Portugal, have also developed national blue economy or marine spatial plans under the EU framework. An outcome of Europe’s efforts has been the growth of offshore wind farms in the North Sea and Baltic, illustrating how strategic planning can channel investment into new marine industries.

To Conclude...

Around the world, the appearance of national blue economy strategies signals a new era of integrated ocean policy. These strategies typically bring together diverse sectors under a single strategic umbrella for sustainable growth. They identify where countries can upgrade infrastructure, adopt new technologies, or improve governance in order to unlock the oceans’ economic potential responsibly. Perhaps most importantly, blue economy strategies make it clear that economic development and ocean conservation must go hand in hand