Chief of the Naval Staff
Blue Economy Initiative
Nurturing the Triple Helix Players in Pakistan's Blue Economy
Defining the Blue Economy
Since the 21st century, the concept of the “Blue Economy” has become increasingly popular. International society believes that the blue economy covers three economic forms: economy coping with global climate change and water crisis, innovative development economy, and developing a vibrant Marine Economy.
Therefore, the Blue Economy is:
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All economic activities related to oceans, seas, and coasts. Blue economy covers a wide range of interlinked established and emerging sectors.
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It revolves around safeguarding the world’s oceans and efficiently using water resources for sustainable growth and development.
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The concept at its core refers to promote the usage of ocean resources for economic growth, social inclusion, and the preservation of livelihoods while at the same time ensuring environmental sustainability of the oceans and coastal areas.
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It encompasses many activities including renewable energy, fisheries, maritime transport, coastal tourism, waste management, and climate change risk management.
The Blue Economy concept aims to shift resources from scarcity to abundance and to start tackling issues that cause environmental problems. To achieve long-term sustainable blue growth needs collaboration, inclusion, and trust in the marine sector.
Importance of Our Marine Resources
The marine and coastal ecosystem plays an important role in the sustainable development and economic growth of any country. Healthy oceans provide jobs and food, sustain economic growth, regulate the climate, and support the well-being of coastal communities. Some facts about our oceans:
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The Oceans for 70% of the earth and 97% of all water resources
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Annually, the coastal economies contribute $1.5 trillion in the overall global economy (OECD) and employ 60 million people worldwide.
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The oceans are a means of transport for 80% of global trade
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3.5 Billion people depend on the Oceans as their primary source of food.
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The marine and coastal environment is a key resource for the global tourism industry
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The seabed currently provides 32% of the global supply of hydrocarbons
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New frontiers of marine resource development from bioprospecting to the mining of seabed mineral resources are opening.
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The sea also offers vast potential for renewable “blue energy” production from wind, wave, tidal, thermal, and biomass sources.
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The oceans are a huge sink for carbon absorption and a lynchpin in combating global climate change
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It is estimated that the total ocean’s resources will be about US$ 24 trillion. This represents the 7th largest economy in the world
Blue Economy in Pakistan Context
Pakistan has a long coastline of approximately 1050 km. It is divided between the provinces of Sindh and Baluchistan. This divides the maritime area of Pakistan into exclusive economic zones (EEZ) and the buffer zones. Recently the United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) has acknowledged Pakistan’s claim on 350 Nautical miles of Sea and resultantly Pakistan’s offshore area has been extended up to 50,000 sq km. After this, the EEZ has become the second-largest province of Pakistan. There are myriads of opportunities to explore in the coastal areas and maritime sector.
These areas feature rich ecology and geology consisting of mangroves, green turtles, fishes, dolphins, whales, corals, oil & gas, minerals, and volcanoes. Additionally, Pakistan has abundant oceanic resources that can be tapped to develop sustainable communities and businesses.
The marine and coastal ecosystem of Pakistan face challenges and is a goldmine of opportunities.
While climate change and pollution are responsible for the degradation of biodiversity of this area, sustainable blue industries can help turn the same for providing economic growth, food production, tourism, trade and at the same time help mitigate the effects of climate change.
Pakistan is a maritime nation and the vast potential lies in the untapped resources from the oceanic resources. Currently, the nation is only able to generate only 0.4 percent of its GDP through maritime sectors. Primarily nascent and under-utilized, the nation will benefit in terms of jobs, and expansion of developing the existing maritime sectors:
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Shipbreaking and shipbuilding Fishing and Aquaculture
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Shipping and logistics Coastal Tourism
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Ports management and development Energy Generation
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Seafaring Minerals and Offshore Basins
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Additionally, the blue economy also encourages exploration of new opportunities in the marine sector that will improve usage of the resources. This would include solutions for climate change such as water conservation, marine ecology preservation and solid waste management; as well as developing technology responses for marine R&D, marine cleantech, high-tech applications for marine sector, sustainable food production.
Strategies for Improvement
Thematic Areas would in general require coming up with Solutions to existing local/national level problems which may involve Value Addition, Market Expansion, Productivity/Yield enhancement, Waste and Cost Reduction, Import Substitution, Social Uplift and overall Economic Growth of their particular locality, city and/or Pakistan. This would be done by the Application/Introduction of Products, Services, Technologies, Processes, Business Models, etc. by:
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Adoption: Application/Introduction of Products, Services, Technologies, Processes, Business Models that already exist in other parts of Pakistan, region or the world, but may be new to a particular locality, city, or Pakistan.
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Adaptation: Modification of Products, Services, Technologies, Processes, Business Models that already exist in other parts of Pakistan, region or the world to suit local conditions and then Application/Introduction in a locality, city or Pakistan.
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Creation: Coming up new Products, Services, Technologies, Processes and Business Models that do not exists anywhere in world; then Application/Introduction of the same in a locality, city, or Pakistan.
