
The US$2.5 Trillion Blue Economy Investment Opportunity
Energy Solutions Fisheries & Aquaculture Plastics & Pollution Shipping & Ports Tourism
Michael van Niekerk, Investment Magazine
- The ocean or the global “blue economy” contributes US$2.5 trillion ($3.8 trillion) a year in economic output – equivalent to world’s seventh-largest economy by GDP – and is expected to expand at twice the rate of the mainstream economy, reaching US$3 trillion a year by 2030.
- Aquaculture produces half of the world’s seafood. Fisheries and aquaculture provide direct or indirect employment to 10-12 per cent of the world’s population, with more than 90 per cent of those employed located in developing countries.
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Whilst strengthening legislation and regulations are critical for healthier oceans, key areas for investment include:
- Shipping decarbonisation – boat/ship electrification and redesign, biofouling reduction, alternative fuels such as hydrogen and methanol
- Sustainable aquaculture – fish, bi-values (oyster, mussels) and plant based (seaweeds and algae)
- Renewable energy – offshore wind farms, wave energy, and local waste to energy
- Waste and plastic reduction solutions
- Natural capital solutions – blue carbon (protection and regenerations of biodiversity (mangroves and saltmarshes).
- Resilience defensive infrastructure such as sustainable seawalls
- Technology – ocean robotics and drones, ocean sensors and data collection
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