Hey everyone!
Let’s talk about the Blue Economy. It’s actually related to Daniella’s post on the FSO Nabarima. If you haven’t had a chance to check it out, take a quick read :) :
https://www.yugencaribbean.com/forum/welcome-to-the-forum/the-fso-nabarima-how-critical-is-it
Now, what exactly is the Blue Economy? Glad you asked haha. According to the World Bank, the Blue Economy refers to ‘the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs, and ocean ecosystem health.’ The Blue Economy encompasses a wide range of activity from fishing, maritime transport, the extraction of hydrocarbons, tourism, the generation of renewable energy and waste management. A study by the World Bank showed that the activity involving the Caribbean Sea was estimated to be around US$407 billion each year.
However, when I think about the extraction of hydrocarbons or waste management, the word ‘sustainable’ isn't the first word to come to mind. With regards to waste management, incorrect waste management and pollution have often led to marine pollution in the Caribbean. Many Caribbean states such as Barbados and Antigua and Barbuda have opted to ban single use plastic bags and/or styrofoam or have encouraged the use of compostable or biodegradable materials. However, some of these materials can only be fully broken down under industrial processes that may not be easily accessible to everyone within a country.
Improper waste management also includes waste water runoff from farming, industrial and domestic activity - a practice that has been associated with bioaccumulation in fish, leading to drastic effects on the marine ecosystem and our fisheries.
Additionally, with regards to the concept of the Blue Economy, it is much easier to pinpoint the implications of marine activity within the territorial jurisdiction of a state than the international waters of the Caribbean Sea. Fortunately, I was really excited to hear the announcement of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement (BBNJ). This agreement focuses on ensuring that stakeholders within the Caribbean region are responsible for ensuring that the marine ecosystem of the wider region is unaffected by their activities. The agreement covers a wide range of issues faced in protecting biodiversity such as shipping, migratory species and cruise tourism.
For instance, shipping vessels operating within the region would have to ensure that there is minimal effect on marine organisms as a result of radiated sound and the introduction of non-native species due to the accumulation of organisms on submerged surfaces of the vessel.
To find out out more about the BBNJ agreement be sure to check out the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute : https://canari.org/bbnj-consultations/
If you want to know more about the Blue Economy, feel free to check out the following resources :)
https://saveourseas.com/update/seafood-mercury-and-bioaccumulation/
https://blogs.worldbank.org/opendata/caribbean-beaches-are-littered-single-use-plastics
Which areas of the blue economy are of major concern for you? Let me know!😊
-Caron D.