Challenges of the Blue Economy: Evidence and Research Trends  

Abstract

BackgroundThe Blue Economy is a recent field of study that encompasses economic activities that depend on the sea, often associated with other economic sectors, including tourism, maritime transport, energy and fishing. Blue growth supports the sustainable growth of the maritime and marine sectors as the oceans and seas are engines of the global economy and have great potential for growth and innovation. This article undertakes a bibliometric analysis in the terms of blue economy, maritime economy, ocean economy, marine economy, and Blue Growth to analysis the scientific production of this field of study. The main objective is to find out if there is a link between the blue economy and the circular economy.ResultsThe results show an evolving and growing trend during the last decade regarding the number of published articles and citations. Nascent and future research trends include terms such as small-scale fisheries, blue degrowth, aquatic species, biofuel, growth of the coastal blue economy, and internationalization. New researchers, experts, public institutions, and private companies who wish to understand the roots of the Blue Economy and its evolution over time may find this article useful to design and develop strategies that lead to its efficient management, preservation, and sustainability.ConclusionsIn conclusion, it highlights the need for alliances between the sectors that compose blue growth with the incorporation of the circular economy in order to achieve a sustainable blue economy.

Driving Blue Economy for Sustainable Development: A case of stakeholder collaboration platform development

“…Martínez-Vázquez et al ( 2021) observes the similarities in definition of ocean economy, marine economy, and blue growth (10) (11). Three aspects of sustainability (i.e., ecological, social, and economic) should be considered in boosting the blue growth by utilizing the resources from oceans for the society's maximal benefit as argued by Niiranen et al (2018) (12). Lu et al ( 2019) attempt to integrate various discourse of BE and provides broad definition of the BE by considering of sustainability, productivity, and integrated planning and development both coastal zone economic system and marine ecosystem.…”