Almost no facet of our global economy has been immune to the COVID-19 crisis. Much has been said about the disruption in more familiar sectors such as airlines, restaurants and sports but the long arm of COVID-19 has also reached out to sea, affecting our blue economy. This collection of formal and informal marine jobs, products and services has been valued at $2.5 trillion a year. If the ocean were a nation, it would rank as the 7th largest economy in the world.
Maritime shipping has seen COVID-19-associated drops in activity of up to 30% in some regions. Lockdowns and reduced demand for seafood have seen fishing activity fall by as much as 80% in China and West Africa. Entire nations dependent on ocean and beach associated tourism have shut their borders. Globally, COVID-19’s impact on tourism may amount to a $7.4 billion loss and could put 75 million jobs at risk.
Some of the COVID-19 stimulus packages that are being designed to recover land-based industries and communities are also exploring ways to leapfrog forwards into greener modes of operation. However, little is being considered for bluer modes of operations. Similar opportunities, however, await us in our ocean and on our coasts.
Here are eight pathways for rebuilding an ocean economy that is both stronger and more sustainable after COVID-19:
1. Bluer Blue Tourism
2. Reducing Shipping Emissions
3. Avoid Squandering a Post-COVID-19 Fish Bounty
4. Supporting Our Mariners Delivery Truck Drivers of the Sea
5. Stay the Course on Ocean Parks
6. Farming the Sea to Feed Billions
7. Digitizing Our Ocean
8. Don’t Prey on the Moment
COVID-19 has exposed just how profoundly linked our economies and well-being are to the ocean. These actions illustrate the need to inject more blue into COVID-19 discussions of green recovery. We cannot miss a chance in the times ahead to benefit both people and our ocean as we bring our sustainable blue economy back online.
2015 Sustainable Enterprises Media, Inc.