In recent decades, the blue bioeconomy has emerged as a top global priority, offering sustainable and renewable uses of marine and aquatic resources, including living organisms and biological materials. Encompassing diverse sectors such as marine biotechnology, fisheries, aquaculture, marine tourism, marine bioprospecting, coastal and marine conservation, and ecosystem services, the blue bioeconomy seeks to reconcile economic and equitable growth with environmental sustainability. By harnessing the diverse marine biodiversity and resources available, the blue bioeconomy is based on and promotes innovative blue technologies for the overall well-being of society. In this context, the blue bioeconomy sector contributes to the achievement of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including 1. No poverty, 2. Zero hunger, 3. Good health and well-being, 6. Clean water and sanitation, 7. Affordable and clean energy, 9. Industry innovation, and infrastructure, 11. Sustainable cities and communities, 12. Responsible consumption and production, 13. Climate action, and 14. Life below water.
Despite the global economic and societal importance of the blue bioeconomy, several anthropogenic factors can hinder its development and lead to economic losses. These factors include illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, mislabeling, overfishing, pollution, invasive species, habitat destruction, inefficient resource management, and climate change. Individually or in combination, these factors can facilitate the emergence of grey (shadow or informal) economy, reduce the value of products, and diminish production, ultimately reducing the income of a wide range of stakeholders (e.g., fishers, seafood producers, tourism agents, and biotechnology companies), thereby affecting society as a whole. Addressing these challenges requires science-based solutions to support the comprehensive management of activities related to the blue bioeconomy. This includes the development and enforcement of regulations, the conservation of ecosystems, the prevention and mitigation of pollution and climate change effects, traceability and certification of seafood, and the adoption of sustainable fishing practices. Given the growing recognition of the challenges facing the blue bioeconomy worldwide, the volume of studies focusing on this economic sector has increased in recent decades. However, there is still ample room for research and discussion.
This research topic aims to improve the understanding of anthropogenic activities that result in losses within the blue bioeconomy framework, as well as strategies to mitigate such losses and explore alternative approaches to promote the blue bioeconomy. We welcome submissions of original research papers, reviews, and short communications that address (but not limited to) the following subtopics:
1. Economic impacts on the blue bioeconomy related to IUU fishing, overfishing, marine pollution, seafood mislabeling, habitat destruction, and inadequate management;
2. Strategies to mitigate economic losses in the blue bioeconomy due to anthropogenic activities, including new regulations, traceability and certification systems, or new-bioeconomic opportunities;
3. New or alternative approaches to conventional concepts for achieving a sustainable and equitable blue bioeconomy (e.g., degrowth or innovative production methods);
4. Regulatory measures and policy frameworks designed to address the informal sector within the blue economy.
Keywords:
Marine economy and management, Marine sustainable development, Grey economy, Informal economy, Shadow economy, Resource Depletion, Illegal Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, Overfishing, Habitat destruction, Marine pollution
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
In recent decades, the blue bioeconomy has emerged as a top global priority, offering sustainable and renewable uses of marine and aquatic resources, including living organisms and biological materials. Encompassing diverse sectors such as marine biotechnology, fisheries, aquaculture, marine tourism, marine bioprospecting, coastal and marine conservation, and ecosystem services, the blue bioeconomy seeks to reconcile economic and equitable growth with environmental sustainability. By harnessing the diverse marine biodiversity and resources available, the blue bioeconomy is based on and promotes innovative blue technologies for the overall well-being of society. In this context, the blue bioeconomy sector contributes to the achievement of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including 1. No poverty, 2. Zero hunger, 3. Good health and well-being, 6. Clean water and sanitation, 7. Affordable and clean energy, 9. Industry innovation, and infrastructure, 11. Sustainable cities and communities, 12. Responsible consumption and production, 13. Climate action, and 14. Life below water.
Despite the global economic and societal importance of the blue bioeconomy, several anthropogenic factors can hinder its development and lead to economic losses. These factors include illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, mislabeling, overfishing, pollution, invasive species, habitat destruction, inefficient resource management, and climate change. Individually or in combination, these factors can facilitate the emergence of grey (shadow or informal) economy, reduce the value of products, and diminish production, ultimately reducing the income of a wide range of stakeholders (e.g., fishers, seafood producers, tourism agents, and biotechnology companies), thereby affecting society as a whole. Addressing these challenges requires science-based solutions to support the comprehensive management of activities related to the blue bioeconomy. This includes the development and enforcement of regulations, the conservation of ecosystems, the prevention and mitigation of pollution and climate change effects, traceability and certification of seafood, and the adoption of sustainable fishing practices. Given the growing recognition of the challenges facing the blue bioeconomy worldwide, the volume of studies focusing on this economic sector has increased in recent decades. However, there is still ample room for research and discussion.
This research topic aims to improve the understanding of anthropogenic activities that result in losses within the blue bioeconomy framework, as well as strategies to mitigate such losses and explore alternative approaches to promote the blue bioeconomy. We welcome submissions of original research papers, reviews, and short communications that address (but not limited to) the following subtopics:
1. Economic impacts on the blue bioeconomy related to IUU fishing, overfishing, marine pollution, seafood mislabeling, habitat destruction, and inadequate management;
2. Strategies to mitigate economic losses in the blue bioeconomy due to anthropogenic activities, including new regulations, traceability and certification systems, or new-bioeconomic opportunities;
3. New or alternative approaches to conventional concepts for achieving a sustainable and equitable blue bioeconomy (e.g., degrowth or innovative production methods);
4. Regulatory measures and policy frameworks designed to address the informal sector within the blue economy.
Keywords:
Marine economy and management, Marine sustainable development, Grey economy, Informal economy, Shadow economy, Resource Depletion, Illegal Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, Overfishing, Habitat destruction, Marine pollution
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.