BLUE ECONOMY: A NEW FRONTIER FOR GROWTH AND A HEALTHY MEDITERRANEAN

Major economic activities rely on the Mediterranean marine and maritime base: tourism and recreational activities; fisheries and aquaculture; maritime transport and port activities; bio-prospecting or exploitation of biological resources; exploitation of energy sources. With 46 000 km of coastline and unique marine resources, the Mediterranean region hosts a Blue Economy with total value estimated at USD 5.6 trillion and generates an annual economic value of USD 450 billion.

These economic activities pose particular threats to the health of the Mediterranean Sea including: i) acidification, sea temperature and level increases, shifts in currents, biodiversity resource and habitat losses, ii) pollution and iii) overfishing and other resource sustainability and efficiency issues.

In this context, a sustainable and inclusive blue economy with low pollution, resource-efficient and circular features can provide a positive contribution to the development of the Mediterranean region.

 

Blue economy is a major work pillar of Plan Bleu, in particular through the projects Blue Growth Community and Sustainable Tourism Community. In January, Plan Bleu published the report “Blue economy in the Mediterranean: Case studies, lessons and perspectives”  and took part in February in the two following events: the First Annual Assembly of the Blue Growth Community (Montpellier, France, 4-5 February 2020), and Euromaritime - the Euromediterranean Blue Growth Exhibition (Marseille, France, 4-6 February 2020).