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In this article, we track a relatively new term in global environmental governance: \"blue economy.\" Analyzing preparatory documentation and data collected at the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development (i.e., Rio + 20), we show how the term entered into use and how it was articulated within four competing discourses regarding human–ocean relations: (a) oceans as natural capital, (b) oceans as good business, (c) oceans as integral to Pacific Small Island Developing States, and (d) oceans as small-scale fisheries livelihoods. Blue economy was consistently invoked to connect oceans with Rio + 20's \"green economy\" theme; however, different actors worked to further define the term in ways that prioritized particular oceans problems, solutions, and participants. It is not clear whether blue economy will eventually be understood singularly or as the domain of a particular actor or discourse. We explore possibilities as well as discuss discourse in global environmental governance as powerful and precarious.

Sustainability of the blue economy is attracting growing interest among academics as an economic strategy that leverages sustainable marine resources. This study aims to investigate the evolution of publication trends and map keywords that help identify the main themes in this field. A bibliometric analysis was conducted of 382 scientific articles indexed by Scopus from 2003 to 2024. Data were processed using R software, Microsoft Excel, and VOSviewer. The findings indicate an annual growth of 23.49% %in this area of study, with a publication peak in 2024. The United States ranks as the most productive country, whereas the University of British Columbia and Stanford University have emerged as the most researched institutions. Marine policies have been identified as the most relevant and documented resource. The analysis uncovered four primary themes in the study of blue economy sustainability: Environmental sustainability, sustainable oceans, water management and policy, and marine conservation. This study serves as a foundation for further exploration to enhance the understanding of the future sustainability of the blue economy.

Purpose This paper aims to describe a case between practitioners and social marketing academics to grow and scale a programme that engages with primary schools, teachers, children and the education network, inspiring students to become marine leaders and ocean champions. Design/methodology/approach Over a six-year period, the authors first applied collective intelligence to work with stakeholders across society to better understand the barriers and solutions to teaching children (6–12 year olds) about the ocean in schools. Following this, a Collective Impact Assessment of the Explorers Education Programme took place to grow the impact of the programme. Findings The Explorers Education Programme has grown its numbers higher than pre-pandemic levels. In 2022, the Explorers Education Programme had the largest number of participating children, reaching 15,237, with a growth of 21% compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019 and 79% compared to 2021. In 2023, the programme won the “Best Education Outreach Award” category of the Education Awards in Ireland. Research limitations/implications This research stresses the importance of measuring impact. The long-term impact of the Explorers Education Programme at societal, environmental and economical levels takes a much longer time frame to measure than the six years of these research collaborations. Practical implications The collaborative approach between academics and practitioners meant that this research had practical implications, whereby necessary and effective changes and learnings could be directly applied to the Explorers Education Programme in real time, as the practitioners involved were directly responsible for the management and coordination of the programme. Originality/value The value of collaborations and engagement between academia and practice cannot be underestimated. The ability to collectively reflect and assess impact moves beyond “an” intervention, allowing for more meaningful behavioural, social and system changes for the collective good, inspiring the next generation of marine leaders and ocean champions.

This study adopts a novel mix of scientometrics, theme-based, citation-based systematic review and interpretative aggregation approach (STCSR-IA) with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) method. It presents a macro-level scientometric analysis of tourism research in coastal, marine and maritime (blue tourism) environments by using 986 research articles published in 130 Scopus-indexed journals from 2000 to 2019. The thematic evolution of research in five time periods of four years each (2000–2003, 2004–2007, 2008–2011, 2012–2015, 2016–2019) was analysed using the authors’ keywords and classified as (a) preliminary (b) transversal stage I (c) transversal stage II and (d) growth stage. The massive evolution of research areas in the growth stage and their themes along with the growing nexus of conceptual relationship within blue tourism is systematically reviewed and presented as a thematic research framework.

To have a clear understanding of the interactive relationship between the marine economy and marine environment in China and to further promote the sustainable development of China’s oceans, this study evaluates the level of coordinated development between China’s marine economy and marine environment by defining and calculating marine eco-efficiency. Next, it uses the Tapio decoupling model to analyze the decoupling relationships among the marine environment, its determinant factors, and the marine economy. This reveals the nature and development trend of the internal relationship between dynamic changes in the marine economy and the marine environment. The results show that, during the study period, there is improvement in the marine eco-efficiencies of 11 Chinese coastal provinces and cities, and there exists a spatial pattern comprising higher marine eco-efficiency in the central regions and lower in the southern and northern ones. Further, the decoupling relationship between the marine economy and marine environment in 11 coastal areas mainly showed a decline from 2006 to 2015. Massive investment of marine resources was not only the major contributor to marine economic growth but also the main factor exerting pressure on the marine environment.

PurposeWe investigate connections between the development of Fintech and the blue economy from September 14th, 2020, to August 11th, 2023.Design/methodology/approachIn this research, we use a cutting-edge model-free connectedness approach to investigate the relationships between FinTech and blue bond volatility. Our work is the first to investigate the effects of unknown events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and Ukraine–Russia conflicts, on the interconnection of volatility derived from FinTech development and blue bond volatility.FindingsOur results highlight the two-way relationship between the development of Fintech and the blue economy during our sample period. The net total connectedness shows that the blue economy index is a net shock receiver, especially in late 2021 and the second half of 2022, while most of the fintech indexes in our sample are mainly net shock transmitters. The Ukraine–Russia tension threatens the development of a sustainable blue economy. The development of Fintech plays an important role in promoting the blue economy.Practical implicationsOur results have important policy implications for investors and governments, as well as methods from the spillovers across the various indicators and their interconnections. Sharp information on the primary contagions among these indicators aids politicians in designing the most appropriate policies.Originality/valueOur paper contributes to the literature in at least four ways. First, as previously stated, our article is the first to investigate the relationship between FinTech and blue bond volatility. Second, this study presented a framework for studying volatility interconnections between distinct variables that is more suited to analyzing these interconnections. In this research, we use a cutting-edge model-free connectedness approach to investigate the relationships between FinTech and blue bond volatility. Third, our work is the first to investigate the effects of unknown events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and Ukraine–Russia conflicts on the interconnection of volatility deriving from FinTech development and blue bond volatility. Lastly, our research provides a daily dataset for the BNP Paribas Easy ECPI Global ESG Blue Economy UCITS ETF to analyze 50 businesses from various markets that are at the forefront of the responsible application of ocean resources and other ESG standards. The Global X FinTech ETF (FINX) and the ARK FinTech Innovation ETF (ARKF) seek exposure to companies developing financial technology innovations. The development sectors include insurance, investment, fundraising and third-party lending by utilizing cutting-edge mobile and digital technologies. Our time series runs from September 14th, 2020, to August 11th, 2023. By using this database, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the link between the volatilities arising from various markets.

The blue economy is a globally emerging concept for ocean governance that seeks to tap the economic potential of the oceans in environmentally sustainable ways. Yet, understanding and implementation of particular visions of the blue economy in specific regions diverge according to national and other contexts. Drawing on a discourse analysis of Chinese language documents, this article assesses how the blue economy has been conceptualised in Chinese state policy and discourse. Part of a state ideology and practice of modernisation that is defined in terms of rejuvenation under a strong state, the blue economy in China is seen as an opportunity to promote modernisation from overlapping economic, geopolitical and ecological perspectives and actions. China’s distinctive model for the blue economy presents emerging challenges for global ocean governance.

PurposeThe objective to achieve economic growth and sustainable development (SD) within the maritime industry has ever since been the ultimate goal of the International Maritime Organization and its stakeholders. Coupled with this effect, the United Nations organization has also mandated all its bodies to adopt sustainable working policies and practices towards the achievement of SD in its 2030 Agenda. From the standpoint of an emerging economy, this study aims to examine green maritime practices adopted by maritime authorities towards the achievement of SD in the maritime industry of Ghana. The proposed conceptual model of this study supports the natural resource-based view theory advocated by Hart (1995).Design/methodology/approachThe dataset of this study was gathered using semi-structured questionnaires. A total of 635 valid responses were received as feedback which were tested and analyzed using partial least square structural equation modelling. The rationale for the adoption of this analytical tool is its resilient ability to handle a relatively small quantity of datasets. It is also suitable for empirical studies involving model development and at the early stage of theory development.FindingsThe findings of the study are as follows; firstly, quality maritime education and training directly and significantly influence green maritime transport (GMT), clean ocean and maritime resource conservation (COMRC), green port operations and services (GPOS), SD and waste management and treatment systems (WMTS). Secondly, GMT, COMRC, GPOS and WMTS have a direct significant influence on SD. Lastly, GMT, COMRC, GPOS and WMTS partially mediate the relationship between quality maritime education and training and SD.Practical implicationsThis study proposes a conceptual model that attempts to explain to maritime authorities and stakeholders that although the adoption of green maritime practices significantly influences SD, yet, it may be insufficient without quality maritime education and training provided to maritime professionals. Hence, emphasizing that all maritime personnel receive quality maritime education and training to enhance the long-term achievement of SD in the maritime industry. It also attempts to prove and suggest to maritime authorities how they can collectively integrate both onshore and offshore green maritime practices to achieve SD.Originality/valueThe originality of this study shows in testing a conceptual model that affirms that, achieving SD in the maritime industry is dependent on quality maritime education and training received by maritime personnel, hence, demonstrating the significant role of maritime training institutions towards the maritime industry and the achievement of SD.

This study investigates the managerial approaches family SMEs adopt to address sustainability in the context of the Blue Economy. Using a qualitative methodology, we conduct nine case studies of family firms operating in Sicily's COSVAP Fishing District area. The data are collected via semi-structured interviews with the founders/managers and analyzed using the Gioia method. The results reveal that family SMEs approach sustainability by adopting three managerial approaches. In the first approach, SME managers conceive sustainability as a threat to the economic sustainability of their firms. The second approach implies that sustainability must undergo specific compromises. The third approach considers sustainability as an opportunity whereby social, environmental, and economic sustainability goals are balanced. Regarding the theoretical implications, our work provides a comprehensive account of managerial approaches of family SMEs toward sustainability. The study offers insights for practitioners and policymakers concerning how to facilitate the transition of family SMEs – and, specifically, fisheries – toward sustainability.