Author: BJÖRN GILLSÄTER

While working in the Galápagos Islands in the late 1980s, I saw the interplay between the many interests on the islands: local fishermen taking advantage of the rich waters around in the archipelago; the research community building on the evolutionary theories discovered by Charles Darwin; the tourism sector responding to an ever-growing interest in the accessible and unique wildlife and fauna; and the rights of the Ecuadorian state to benefit from this national asset. Finding a way to balance these – sometimes conflicting – interests in a manner that allows for sustainable and equitable growth is what we today call the Blue Economy.

Please read the full blog at: https://blogs.worldbank.org/voices/potential-blue-economy 

Authors: ROBERT JONES I PAWAN PATIL

What if we had the chance to reinvent the world’s food system and make local, more sustainable, nourishing and diverse food the new norm rather than the exception? 
 
It might seem far-fetched, but with 9 billion people expected on our planet by 2050, and one out of three children in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa stunted from poor nutrition, it's a necessity. Today, one in ten fellow citizens suffer from hunger and global food waste is at an all-time high.   

Experts agree that world food production will need a boost by 2050 (and we'll need to waste less) to feed our growing planet.  Some estimates suggest we only have 60 years of food production left in our soils if we continue with current unsustainable agricultural practices, including misplaced subsidies. Moreover, arable land and freshwater are in limited supply. 
 
Against this backdrop, aquaculture—the practice of growing food in the water, is one food production sector growing rapidly. In fact, in the two poorest regions of the world, South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa aquaculture (mostly fish) growth rates are no less than ten percent per annum over the past ten years.   
 
With our global ocean covering over 70 percent of earth's surface, nearly every ocean-facing country has significant potential to farm its oceans.  As nations look seaward, sea ranching and growing food in pens in open water is poised to grow, offering new climate-smart sources of protein inherently scalable given the vastness of the sea. Foods grown range from micronutrient-rich seaweeds and marine algae to fish (even Tuna, once thought imaginable) and shellfish.

Read the full blog at: https://blogs.worldbank.org/voices/opportunity-reinvent-our-food-system-and-unlock-human-capital-too

Authors: ROBERT JONES I PAWAN PATIL

What if we had the chance to reinvent the world’s food system and make local, more sustainable, nourishing and diverse food the new norm rather than the exception? 
 
It might seem far-fetched, but with 9 billion people expected on our planet by 2050, and one out of three children in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa stunted from poor nutrition, it's a necessity. Today, one in ten fellow citizens suffer from hunger and global food waste is at an all-time high.   

Experts agree that world food production will need a boost by 2050 (and we'll need to waste less) to feed our growing planet.  Some estimates suggest we only have 60 years of food production left in our soils if we continue with current unsustainable agricultural practices, including misplaced subsidies. Moreover, arable land and freshwater are in limited supply. 
 
Against this backdrop, aquaculture—the practice of growing food in the water, is one food production sector growing rapidly. In fact, in the two poorest regions of the world, South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa aquaculture (mostly fish) growth rates are no less than ten percent per annum over the past ten years.   
 
With our global ocean covering over 70 percent of earth's surface, nearly every ocean-facing country has significant potential to farm its oceans.  As nations look seaward, sea ranching and growing food in pens in open water is poised to grow, offering new climate-smart sources of protein inherently scalable given the vastness of the sea. Foods grown range from micronutrient-rich seaweeds and marine algae to fish (even Tuna, once thought imaginable) and shellfish.

Read the full blog at: https://blogs.worldbank.org/voices/opportunity-reinvent-our-food-system-and-unlock-human-capital-too

Authors: JULIANA CASTAÑO-ISAZA & SYLVIA MICHELE DIEZ

On Ocean Action Day at COP26, government leaders called for the protection and restoration of ocean health. Since the first Ocean Day at COP15 in 2009, global awareness of the importance of oceans has risen, and especially of the need to adopt a Blue Economy approach—defined as the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs while preserving the health of marine and coastal ecosystems.

Oceans play an integral role in climate change mitigation, absorbing some 23% of human-caused carbon dioxide emissions and more than 90% of the excess heat created by human-caused greenhouse gases. Despite the potential of oceans to mitigate climate change, only 8 of 192 countries with nationally determined contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement have included quantifiable measurements for marine carbon sequestration ; and the NDCs of only two countries (Bahamas and Fiji) refer to ocean-based renewable energy.

"Oceans play an integral role in climate change mitigation, absorbing some 23% of human-caused carbon dioxide emissions and more than 90% of the excess heat created by human-caused greenhouse gases."

Please read the full blog at: https://blogs.worldbank.org/climatechange/protecting-oceans-climate-change-impacts 

Authors: JULIANA CASTAÑO-ISAZA & SYLVIA MICHELE DIEZ

On Ocean Action Day at COP26, government leaders called for the protection and restoration of ocean health. Since the first Ocean Day at COP15 in 2009, global awareness of the importance of oceans has risen, and especially of the need to adopt a Blue Economy approach—defined as the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs while preserving the health of marine and coastal ecosystems.

Oceans play an integral role in climate change mitigation, absorbing some 23% of human-caused carbon dioxide emissions and more than 90% of the excess heat created by human-caused greenhouse gases. Despite the potential of oceans to mitigate climate change, only 8 of 192 countries with nationally determined contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement have included quantifiable measurements for marine carbon sequestration ; and the NDCs of only two countries (Bahamas and Fiji) refer to ocean-based renewable energy.

"Oceans play an integral role in climate change mitigation, absorbing some 23% of human-caused carbon dioxide emissions and more than 90% of the excess heat created by human-caused greenhouse gases."

Please read the full blog at: https://blogs.worldbank.org/climatechange/protecting-oceans-climate-change-impacts 

Authors: SYLVIA MICHELE DIEZ I DAVID ADEYEMI AROMOKEYE I JORGE BARBOSA

Although the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) territories are small in terms of land mass, they are surrounded by a 500,000 km2 seascape – roughly 80 times larger than their land areas. The marine space is a lifeline for OECS countries, which have embraced the Blue Economy - - in other words, using this massive ocean area for sustainable economic growth and resilience.

Thanks to picturesque beaches, incredible marine biodiversity, and warm, welcoming people, the Caribbean tourism industry boomed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, dominating the region’s economy. Tourism, which is a major employer in the Caribbean, contributed 15.2% (or $57 billion annually) to the region’s prosperity.

Unfortunately, the necessary lockdown measures to curb the pandemic have severely impacted the sector. Tourism is projected to decline 58%-78% globally in 2020 according to the UN World Trade Organization, jeopardizing job prospects in the Caribbean, where 54% of workers in the hotel and hospitality industry are women.]

Please read the full blog at: https://blogs.worldbank.org/latinamerica/unleashing-blue-economy-economic-recovery-and-resilience-eastern-caribbean 

Authors: SYLVIA MICHELE DIEZ I DAVID ADEYEMI AROMOKEYE I JORGE BARBOSA

Although the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) territories are small in terms of land mass, they are surrounded by a 500,000 km2 seascape – roughly 80 times larger than their land areas. The marine space is a lifeline for OECS countries, which have embraced the Blue Economy - - in other words, using this massive ocean area for sustainable economic growth and resilience.

Thanks to picturesque beaches, incredible marine biodiversity, and warm, welcoming people, the Caribbean tourism industry boomed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, dominating the region’s economy. Tourism, which is a major employer in the Caribbean, contributed 15.2% (or $57 billion annually) to the region’s prosperity.

Unfortunately, the necessary lockdown measures to curb the pandemic have severely impacted the sector. Tourism is projected to decline 58%-78% globally in 2020 according to the UN World Trade Organization, jeopardizing job prospects in the Caribbean, where 54% of workers in the hotel and hospitality industry are women.]

Please read the full blog at: https://blogs.worldbank.org/latinamerica/unleashing-blue-economy-economic-recovery-and-resilience-eastern-caribbean 

Author: ALICE LLOYD 

A tourist eyeing the gorgeous azure waters around Zanzibar, Tanzania, might think about taking a frolic in the waves, but for local fishers, the sea means business--the seafood business.

According to the UNFAO, about 1 billion people in developing countries rely on seafood as a primary source of animal protein , and millions of jobs are linked to fisheries.
Many of these jobs, however, are now in peril.

In Zanzibar, Tanzania, over fishing, illegal fishing (by blast fishing), and climate change are among the many challenges that are affecting the livelihoods of small-scale fishermen.

Read the full blog: https://blogs.worldbank.org/governance/transforming-livelihoods-through-good-governance-and-seaweed-farming 

Original source of the story: http://wrld.bg/SfhZi

Author: ALICE LLOYD 

A tourist eyeing the gorgeous azure waters around Zanzibar, Tanzania, might think about taking a frolic in the waves, but for local fishers, the sea means business--the seafood business.

According to the UNFAO, about 1 billion people in developing countries rely on seafood as a primary source of animal protein , and millions of jobs are linked to fisheries.
Many of these jobs, however, are now in peril.

In Zanzibar, Tanzania, over fishing, illegal fishing (by blast fishing), and climate change are among the many challenges that are affecting the livelihoods of small-scale fishermen.

Read the full blog: https://blogs.worldbank.org/governance/transforming-livelihoods-through-good-governance-and-seaweed-farming 

Original source of the story: http://wrld.bg/SfhZi

The United Nations maintains 17 Sustainable Development Goals that serve as a framework for international cooperation to help people and the planet thrive.

A recent study from the UN shows that aquaculture can improve food security and nutrition by increasing the amount of seafood available for people to eat. If done correctly, aquaculture increases food production, boosts economic growth in coastal and rural areas, and can help keep waterways clean.

Please visit the link to read the full blog: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/aquaculture-supports-sustainable-earth