Blue Economy Working Group established by AEC
Blue Economy Working Group (BEWG) is the latest addition to the AEC Working Groups. According to AEC, the Working Group will be chaired by Ms. Dana Eidsness, Director of the Maine North Atlantic Development Office (MENADO) in the USA. The BEWG aims to facilitate a pan-Arctic alliance of ocean clusters to leverage the knowledge, expertise and funding instruments throughout the region to fast track product development and economic growth in the sector. At the core of this working group’s activity will be commitment to balancing sustainability and business and demonstrating through its work that the two are not mutually exclusive.
“With OECD projections showing that the ocean economy could double in size, from 2010-2030 to reach USD $3 trillion and employ 40 million people worldwide, the BEWG will aim to facilitate a pan-Arctic alliance of ocean clusters to leverage the knowledge, expertise and funding instruments throughout the region to fast track product development and economic growth in the sector. At the core of this working group’s activity will be commitment to balancing sustainability and business and to demonstrating through its work that the two are not mutually exclusive. We are rolling up our sleeves, sharing models of success—and will create a blueprint and successful case projects that will provide partners in our Blue Economy network with the expert resources, processes and templates to replicate success, again and again. The ocean presents immense opportunities for economic growth, employment and development. The ocean economy spans multiple sectors—including oil and gas, fishing, aquaculture, shipping, marine technology, tourism, offshore wind energy, mining and marine biotechnology—and is growing rapidly”, says Ms. Dana Eidsness, Chair of the AEC Blue Economy Working Group.
The BEWG will coordinate activity with other AEC working groups such as the Maritime Transportation Working Group on matters related to shipping. Blue economy business development themes will include: Marine biotechnology and bio-products – the application of scientific and engineering principles to the processing of materials by marine biological agents to provide goods and services; Ocean food systems – value chains in fisheries, aquaculture, seafood trade; Maritime Transportation – improving the sustainability of the shipping and cruise industries in terms of social, environmental and economic impacts; Marine Technology – technologies for the safe use, exploitation, protection of, and intervention in, the marine environment.
The first phase of the work will start with a consultation round with Arctic Blue Business Innovation Networks with the aim to identify models of success.
