PREREQUISITES FOR SUSTAINABLE BLUE ECONOMY DEVELOPMENT
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17770/etr2025vol1.8658Keywords:
blue economy, circular economy, environmental sustainability, sustainableAbstract
This paper analyzes the opportunities and challenges in developing a sustainable blue economy in the Baltic Sea region, focusing primarily on clean technologies, renewable energy utilization, and circular material flows. The research methodology includes a comprehensive review of policy frameworks, technological innovations, and existing literature sourced from the Web of Science database, supplemented by bibliometric analysis to identify emerging trends and influential research. Results highlight significant environmental challenges such as pollution, overfishing, habitat degradation, and impacts from climate change. Despite these ecological threats, the findings reveal substantial economic growth opportunities through the adoption of sustainable practices. Critical factors identified for successful transition include effective resource management, technological innovation, and strengthened international collaboration. The study concludes that the Baltic Sea region has significant potential to become a global benchmark in sustainable marine and coastal resource management. Strategic recommendations emphasize the importance of enhancing policy support, fostering innovation, and promoting international cooperation to secure ecosystem preservation and economic resilience.
References
C.L. Van Dover, J. Aronson, L. Pendleton, S. Smith, S. Arnaud-Haond, D. Moreno-Mateos, E. Barbier, D. Billett, K. B., “Ecological restoration in the deep sea: Desiderata”, Marine Policy, Volume 44, 2014, pp.98-106, ISSN 0308-597X, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2013.07.006 [Accessed: Feb. 26, 2025]
C.E. Elrick-Barr, D.C. Thomsen, T.F. Smith, “Governance innovations in the coastal zone: Towards social-ecological resilience”, Environmental Science & Policy, Volume 153, 2024, 103687, ISSN 1462-9011, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2024.103687 [Accessed: March. 4, 2025].
C.Colgan, “The Blue Economy Handbook of the Indian Ocean Region: Chapter Two ("The Blue Economy Theory and Strategy") and Chapter Fifteen ("Climate Change and the Blue Economy of the Indian Ocean")” book Institute of South Africa, 2018. https://muse.jhu.edu/book/60769/ [Accessed: March. 2, 2025].
E.Trégarot, J.P. D'Olivo, A.Z.Botelho, A.Cabrito, G.O.Cardoso, G.Casal, C.C.Cornet, S.M. Cragg, A.K. Degia, S.Fredriksen, E.Furlan, G.Heiss, D.K.Kersting, J.-P.Maréchal, E.Meesters, B.C. O'Leary, G.Pérez, C.Seijo-Núñez, R.Simide, M.van der Geest, S.de Juan, “Effects of climate change on marine coastal ecosystems – A review to guide research and management”, Biological Conservation, Volume 289, 2024, 110394, ISSN 0006-3207, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2023.110394 [Accessed: March. 2, 2025].
G.Hoppit, D.N.S.P.Brazier, N.Mieszkowska, M.Pieraccini, “Are marine protected areas an adaptation measure against climate change impacts on coastal ecosystems? A UK case study”, Nature-Based Solutions, Volume 2, 2022, 100030, ISSN 2772-4115, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbsj.2022.100030 [Accessed: Feb. 26, 2025]
H.J. Niner, N.C. Barut, T.Baum, D.Diz, D.Laínez del Pozo, S.Laing, A.Malinde S.N. Lancaster, K.A. McQuaid, T.Mendo, E.Morgera, P. N. Maharaj, I.Okafor-Yarwood, K.Ortega-Cisneros, T.V. Warikandwa, S.Rees, “Issues of context, capacity and scale: Essential conditions and missing links for a sustainable blue economy”, Environmental Science & Policy, Volume 130, 2022, pp.25-35, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2022.01.001 [Accessed: Feb. 16, 2025]
K.Kazimierczuk, C.Henderson, K.Duffy, S.Hanif, S.Bhattacharya, S.Biswas, E.Jacroux, D.Preziuso, D.Wu, D.Bhatnagar, B.Tarekegne, “A socio-technical assessment of marine renewable energy potential in coastal communities”, Energy Research & Social Science, Volume 100, 2023, 103098, ISSN 2214-6296, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2023.103098 [Accessed: Feb. 20, 2025]
K.Hoon Lee, J.Noh, J.Seong Khim, “The Blue Economy and the United Nations’ sustainable development goals: Challenges and opportunities”, Environment International, Volume 137, 2020, 105528, ISSN 0160-4120, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2020.105528 [Accessed: Feb. 5, 2025]
A.Kõivupuu, M.Fetissov, R.Aps, H.Orav-Kotta, V.Laine, M.L.Pant, M.Rätsep, J.Kotta, “Towards Resilient Marine Ecosystems: EcoSensitivity as an Operational Model for Strategic” Oil Spill Management. J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13, 2. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13010002 [Accessed: Feb. 12, 2025]
A.Koschinsky, L.Heinrich, K.Boehnke, J.C.Cohrs, T.Markus, M.Shani, P.Singh, K.Smith, K.Stegen, W.Werner, “Deep-sea mining: Interdisciplinary research on potential environmental, legal, economic, and societal implications”. Integr Environ Assess Manag. 2018 Nov;14(6):672-691. doi: 10.1002/ieam.4071 [Accessed: March. 2, 2025].
L.Lees, K.Herkül, R.Aps, F.R.Barboza, K.Karro, M.Roio, R.Szava-Kovats, J.Kotta, “Integrating cultural and natural assets in marine spatial planning: A new approach for joint management of cultural and natural assets”, Journal for Nature Conservation, Volume 81, 2024, 126701, ISSN 1617-1381, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnc.2024.126701 [Accessed: March. 1, 2025].
L.Yu, Z.Guo, J.Ji, “Environmental regulation and marine economic resilience: An institutional synergy perspective”, Marine Pollution Bulletin, Volume 205, 2024, 116643, ISSN 0025-326X, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116643 [Accessed: March. 3, 2025].
M.Fudge, E.Ogier, K.A.Alexander, “Marine and coastal places: Wellbeing in a blue economy”, Environmental Science & Policy, Volume 144, 2023, pp.64-73, ISSN 1462-9011, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2023.03.002 [Accessed: Feb. 12, 2025]
M.Vázquez, R.M.Milán-García, J. & de Pablo Valenciano, “Challenges of the Blue Economy: evidence and research trends”. Environ Sci Eur 33, 61 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12302-021-00502-1 [Accessed: Feb. 16, 2025]
M.Baker-Médard, C.Gantt, R.Easton, White, “Classed conservation: Socio-economic drivers of participation in marine resource management”, Environmental Science & Policy, Volume 124, 2021, pp.156-162, ISSN 1462-9011, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2021.06.007 [Accessed: Feb. 25, 2025]
M.Fairuz Ahmad Jasmi, Y.Fernando, “Drivers of maritime green supply chain management”, Sustainable Cities and Society, Volume 43, 2018, pp.366-383, ISSN 2210-6707, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2018.09.001[Accessed: Feb. 26, 2025]
N.J.Bennett, J.Blythe, C.Sandrine White, C.Campero, “Blue growth and blue justice: Ten risks and solutions for the ocean economy” Marine Policy, Volume 125, 2021, 104387, ISSN 0308-597X, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2020.104387 [Accessed: Feb. 19, 2025]
N.J.Bennett, S.Villasante, M.J.Espinosa-Romero, P.F.M. Lopes, S.A.Selim, E.H.Allison, “Social sustainability and equity in the blue economy”, One Earth, Volume 5, Issue 9, 2022, pp.964-968, ISSN 2590-3322, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2022.08.004 [Accessed: Feb. 12, 2025]
O.Oloruntobi, K.Mokhtar, A.Gohari, S.Asif, L.F.Chuah, “Sustainable transition towards greener and cleaner seaborne shipping industry: Challenges and opportunities”, Cleaner Engineering and Technology, Volume 13, 2023, 100628, ISSN 2666-7908, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clet.2023.100628 [Accessed: March. 2, 2025].
Q.Zhao, F.Stephenson, C.Lundquist, K.Kaschner, D.Jayathilake, M.J.Costello, “Where Marine Protected Areas would best represent 30% of ocean biodiversity”, Biological Conservation, Volume 244, 2020, 108536, ISSN 0006-3207, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108536 [Accessed: March. 2, 2025].
A.Rijkure, J.Megnis, “Technical methods of cleaning shipwrecks from ghost nets” Environment, Technology, Resources., 2024, 3, pp. 253–256 https://journals.rta.lv/index.php/ETR/article/view/8160 [Accessed: March. 3, 2025].
R.J.O’Connor, A.K.Spalding, A.W.Bowers, N.M.Ardoin, “Power and participation: A systematic review of marine protected area engagement through participatory science Methods”, Marine Policy, Volume 163, 2024, 106133, ISSN 0308-597X, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2024.106133 [Accessed: Feb. 12, 2025]
J.J.Silver, N.J.Gray, L.M.Campbell, L.W.Fairbanks, R.L.Gruby, “Blue Economy and Competing Discourses in International Oceans Governance”. The Journal of Environment & Development,2024, 24(2), pp.135-160. https://doi.org/10.1177/1070496515580797 [Accessed: Feb. 14, 2025]
S.She, J.Zhu, K.Yi, X.Wang, “Active response from managers: Green marine supply chain empathic response mechanism”, Ocean & Coastal Management, Volume 245, 2023, 106878, ISSN 0964-5691, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2023.106878 [Accessed: March. 2, 2025].
S.Fermepin, E.M.James, S.Watson, S.H.Grantham, M.Mendez, “Global marine conservation priorities for sustaining marine productivity, preserving biodiversity and addressing climate change”, Marine Policy, Volume 161, 2024, 106016, ISSN 0308-597X, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2024.106016 [Accessed: Feb. 12, 2025]
U.Sarangi “Blue economy, blue finance and ocean governance for achieving sustainable development goals”, Natural Resoursies forum, Natural Resources Forum: Volume 47, Issue 1, pp.3-21, https://doi.org/10.1111/1477-8947.12267 [Accessed: Feb. 14, 2025]
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Astrīda Rijkure

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.