Achieving sustainable ocean economies requires a holistic approach. This chapter presents recommendations on how development co-operation can promote integrated ocean management. It sets out a stepwise process through which partner countries can establish and implement coherent and comprehensive ocean policies—highlighting areas where development co-operation providers can offer support. The chapter also outlines ways to strengthen coordination and coherence among providers, ensuring that development co-operation practices themselves are guided by the principles of integrated ocean management.
Promoting Sustainable Ocean Economies
Guidance for Development Co-operation
Abstract
The multiple uses of the ocean call for an integrated approach to its management. However, holistic policies to govern the ocean are nascent in many developing countries, which risks creating a fragmented policy and institutional setting, where tensions and synergies between different ocean uses and priorities are not sufficiently accounted for. Fragmentation is also a risk for development co-operation providers, where the lack of coordinating mechanisms can inhibit coherent support for the four goals of development co-operation for a sustainable ocean economy. The rapid growth of the ocean economy and escalating pressures on ocean resources further complicate ocean governance, making integrated ocean management all the more important.
The process of establishing a coherent policy framework for an ocean economy is often described as a stepwise process. For instance, the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative’s (UNEP FI) three-phrase Sustainable Blue Economy Transition Framework1 (see Figure 3.1) helps countries to consider their existing situation, including current governance, status of their ecosystems and resources, and identify integrated policy and management to advance a sustainable ocean economy.
The first two recommendations of this chapter aim to support this stepwise process. Each recommendation highlights the various steps where capacity development efforts and financing from development co-operation providers can equip partner countries to establish a coherent framework for a sustainable ocean economy. While not all developing countries will require support at all stages of the process (given that they may be quite advanced already, or have the required resources domestically), these two recommendations are designed to illustrate the full spectrum of areas of support.
In addition to strengthening ocean governance in partner countries, development co-operation providers can improve their own coordination on ocean-related issues. This is the focus of the third recommendation, aiming to promote cohesion across providers’ ocean-related programming (Section 3.3).
Note: BE: blue economy; SBE: sustainable blue economy
Source: UNEP Finance Initiative (2025, forthcoming[1]), Transitioning to a Sustainable Blue Economy.
Equip partner countries to appraise the state of and identify a vision for their sustainable ocean economy
Not all coastal and island developing countries have a fully articulated vision for a sustainable ocean economy. The goals of ocean-based economic development, ocean equity, healthy marine and coastal ecosystems, and ocean-based climate action should apply not only to development co-operation providers, but conceivably also to partner countries’ own ambitions. However, as noted in Chapter 2, while these goals may provide a guiding framework, the specific issues vary in individual countries. Through financial and capacity support, development co-operation can enable partner countries to define these priorities.
A fundamental step is to help partner countries understand the current state of their ocean economy and ecosystems, which can enable them to lay out an overarching policy direction for ocean issues. One way development co-operation providers can assist is to fund a dedicated and demand-driven study of the threats to and drivers of a sustainable ocean economy in a given partner country. For example, Portugal supported the diagnosis of Cabo Verde’s ocean economy, which helped identify opportunities and pressure points for its sustainable development (OECD, 2022[2]). Such support can also be channelled through existing initiatives such as the Commonwealth Blue Charter and the Blue Recovery Hubs (Box 3.1).
Specific tools, such as marine spatial planning (MSP) and ocean accounts, offer another possible area of support for development co-operation providers. These tools, which are useful at the implementation stage (section 3.2), can also be used during the knowledge gathering and visioning stage of policy development. For instance, while marine spatial plans are principally a medium-term management tool, certain countries may also opt to develop a longer-term vision or strategy as a part of the MSP process (European Commission, 2018[3]). Likewise, ocean accounting processes – which aim to compile integrated and comparable data on environmental, economic, and social conditions related to the ocean – can help understand the starting point for supporting a country’s ocean economy, including possible knowledge gaps that need to be addressed (Hollaway et al., n.d.[4]).
Commonwealth Blue Charter
The Commonwealth Blue Charter is an agreement by all 53 Commonwealth countries “to actively co-operate to solve ocean-related problems and meet commitments for sustainable ocean development”.
The charter is implemented through action groups, covering a range of topics from marine protected areas and mangrove ecosystems to livelihoods within a sustainable ocean economy. Each action group strives to identify the priority ocean issues of member countries. The Sustainable Blue Economy action group, for example, produces studies on the opportunities and challenges facing different ocean economy strategies (e.g. aquaculture, capture fisheries, marine renewable energy). There is a notable focus on the barriers to and opportunities for entry into these sectors for Small Island Developing States.
Blue Resilience Hubs
A partnership between the World Resources Institute and the OECD, the Blue Resilience Hubs (formerly, Blue Recovery Hubs) supports countries to build resilience via a sustainable approach to their ocean economy. The initiative consists of three stages:
Stage 1: A holistic appraisal of a country’s ocean economy, to identify its scope, vulnerabilities, and opportunities for resilient development
Stage 2: A sustainable investment pathway to understand what can impede or accelerate the financing of priority ocean economy sectors (as identified by country governments)
Stage 3: A partnership roundtable to build consensus and identify actions to implement the recommendations of stages 1 and 2.
Source: (Commonwealth Secretariat, 2021[5]), Commonwealth Blue Charter - Shared Values, Shared Ocean: A Commonwealth Commitment to Work Together to Protect and Manage our Ocean; (Blue Recovery Hubs, 2023[6]), Building Sustainable, Equitable and Resilient Ocean Economies, https://www.bluehubs.org/.
By promoting inclusive stakeholder engagement at the visioning stage, development co-operation can help address information gaps and build buy in. Investing adequate time and resources in an inclusive visioning process can not only promote equity in the ocean economy, but also help raise awareness of ocean-related issues and promote people’s engagement in its further development and implementation. This can be done in different ways, ranging from public consultations and focus groups to working groups to cross-sectoral workshops (OECD, 2024[7]). Efforts to engage Indigenous peoples and local communities, in particular, can ensure the integration of the ocean’s traditional and cultural importance into the overarching vision for the ocean economy. This engagement can also serve a practical purpose: in certain contexts, traditional knowledge is the sole source of robust information on the threats and drivers of a sustainable ocean economy (Caldeira, Sekinairai and Vierros, 2025[8]). Here, adequately consulting Indigenous peoples and local communities is essential for ensuring a country’s vision is based on the best available knowledge.
Support the mapping of ocean-related policy instruments, and the development of ocean strategies, plans and policies
Development co-operation providers can play a role in supporting developing countries’ analysis of their ocean governance status. Mapping the ocean governance landscape can help indicate gaps in the policy framework, where existing policy needs to be strengthened, or where institutional structures need adapting. Such mapping exercises typically involve a full landscape study of key ocean-relevant policies. Depending on the specific context, these policies can range from cross-sectoral planning instruments (e.g. national development plans) to sectoral plans (e.g. fisheries, tourism, transport), to specific ocean management tools (e.g. marine spatial plans, marine protected areas). This exercise can lead to the complete visualisation of the various policies that interact with the ocean economy at the national level, highlighting the need for co-ordination and coherence across the whole policy and governance system. For instance, Fiji’s recent National Ocean Policy (NOP) lists 56 national policies related to the ocean economy policy and maps the main legislations interacting with the ocean economy, especially its National Development Plan (Figure 3.2) (Republic of Fiji, 2020[9]).
Note: Links between policies were identified based on an analysis of each policy’s text, which helped reveal the thematic similarity of the various policies.
Source: Republic of Fiji (2020[9]), Republic of Fiji National Ocean Policy 2020-2030, https://fijiclimatechangeportal.gov.fj/ppss/republic-of-fiji-national-ocean-policy-2020-2030/.
Mapping the sustainable ocean economy policy landscape in developing countries can help identify where policies are in synergy or conflict and what gaps exist in ocean governance. Exploring how the priorities of different sectors affect other sectors can help to understand the specific nature of the potential trade-offs, such as expanding the petroleum industry alongside climate change commitments. Similarly, synergies can be identified where action can support progress towards multiple policy goals, such as ecosystem protection and sustainable coastal livelihoods, or nature-based solutions addressing climate change and ecosystem health.
This can lay the foundation for developing a cross-sectoral ocean strategy, plan or policy. The details of these policy frameworks depend on what types of instruments already exist in the country and what mechanisms it wants to set up. There are multiple types of possible instruments, which vary in their level of granularity and formality. These can include (1) ocean strategies (which outline plans and priorities for a country’s ocean economy); (2) action plans (which spell out concrete actions for the implementation of the ocean strategy); and (3) policy (which involves formalised and legal tools that guide government actions on the ocean economy) (March et al., 2024[10]). In Cabo Verde, for example, a diagnosis of ocean-based economic activities and the underlying institutional environment laid the basis for the creation of the National Strategy for the Sea 2023-33 and a corresponding action plan (Government of Cabo Verde, 2024[11]).
While the development of these policies or plans is mainly an undertaking for developing country governments, development co-operation providers may be called on to provide ancillary support. Development co-operation support is particularly relevant for countries like SIDS where local capacities and financial resources are often very limited. Through technical and legal assistance, as well as knowledge sharing, providers can help develop capacity and address the lack of sufficient information. Since ecosystems and economic activities often occur in several jurisdictions and across national boundaries, development programmes that promote regional co-operation and peer-learning are particularly useful. These can allow developing countries looking to set up and implement their own national ocean economy strategy to learn from the experiences of neighbouring countries that may be facing similar constraints, challenges and opportunities. The role of South-South co-operation and triangular co-operation is becoming increasingly significant in effective co-ordination efforts. For instance, the Government of Indonesia, supported by UNDP, initiated the Archipelagic and Island States Forum, covering 51 participating countries, which has put forward actions to develop a sustainable ocean economy in other Forum member countries (Archipelagic and Island States Forum, n.d.[12]).
Strengthen the integration of ocean priorities within other planning and policy frameworks
In addition to tailored ocean policies and plans, a coherent ocean policy framework for a sustainable ocean economy involves incorporating ocean priorities in other guiding policy instruments. Cross-sectoral ocean instruments do not replace sector-based management – they provide an anchoring framework for ocean-based activities across sectors and uses. For instance, the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar (RGoZ) updated the Fisheries Act in 2022 to reflect the direction provided by its new ocean economy policy (RGoZ, 2020[13]; RGoZ, 2022[14]). Here, development co-operation providers have a role in reflecting the guiding policy for a sustainable ocean economy in their support for the development and update of sectoral plans. Given that sector plans also typically guide national budget allocations, aligning an ocean strategy or policy with sector-specific instruments can ensure that the strategy’s priorities are funded and implemented.
Development co-operation providers can also support developing countries to include ocean-based solutions for adaptation and mitigation in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). NDCs, at the core of the Paris Agreement, are a key tool to achieve global climate change mitigation and adaptation objectives. Although most SIDS (36 out of 39) have at least one ocean-related measure in their NDCs, whether targeting conservation or an ocean-based economic sector (UNCTAD, 2024[15]), this is not the case for all developing countries. Out of the 148 countries that had submitted their NDCs as of October 2023, 51 did not include coastal and marine NbS in their updated NDCs; of these, 33 were coastal countries (Figure 3.3). Development co-operation can therefore support these countries to raise their ambition for the ocean in future rounds of NDCs. They could also highlight the many developing countries which have used their NDCs to identify their resource needs for coastal and marine NbS, thereby presenting a clearer picture of their ocean strategy and the needs that development co-operation should strive to meet. For instance, Panama indicated in its updated NDC that 8% of its total needs for capacity development should be allocated to coastal and marine policies and measures (e.g. coastal management, protected areas).
Note: Figures are as of October 1, 2023.
Source: Lecerf et al. (2023[16]), Coastal and Marine Ecosystems as Nature-based Solutions in New or Updated Nationally Determined Contributions, https://www.wetlands.org/download/10364/?tmstv=1746102235.
Finally, development co-operation providers can support developing countries’ future updates of their national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs). NBSAPs are the main mechanism used by governments to implement the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). These strategies and plans define national targets and actions for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. They also specify actions for the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits that arise out of the utilisation of genetic resources. In 2022 it was concluded that marine and coastal biodiversity issues were not adequately represented in the Aichi Targets2. Development co-operation could help to remediate the insufficient progress on those Aichi Targets relevant to the ocean economy: Target 6: sustainable fisheries; Target 11: protection measures; Target 15: ecosystem restoration and resilience; and Target 19: knowledge, science and technology) by supporting further communication, peer-learning exercises, and tailored capacity development at different levels of governance (Carr et al., 2020[17]). Development co-operation can also explore how NBSAP processes and content can support the successful implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), for example, through the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership (Brooks et al., 2022[18]).
Support specific management tools and instruments to operationalise partner countries’ overarching ocean policies
Higher-level policy frameworks can lay the basis for more specific tools which can be supported by development co-operation. Table 3.1, for instance, details the instruments that partner countries can choose, depending on their needs and capacities, to promote ocean conservation and/or the sustainable use of ocean and coastal resources. These encompass instruments that are regulatory (i.e. which impose standards on access to or use of natural resources), economic (i.e. which place a price on negative externalities), and information-based or voluntary (i.e. which influence behaviour via information dissemination).
Note: MARPOL is the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships.
Source: OECD, (2020[19]), Sustainable Ocean for All: Harnessing the Benefits of Sustainable Ocean Economies for Developing Countries, https://doi.org/10.1787/bede6513-en.
Since an integrated approach to ocean management calls for navigating its multiple uses and conflicts, spatial management tools are an important area for development co-operation support. Tools like marine spatial plans and marine protected areas can help navigate pressures from different ocean economy sectors, complementing sector-specific tools. For example, the US State Department launched the Resilient Pacific Blue Economy MSP project in partnership with the Pacific Community (SPC) in 2022. The programme supports Palau’s MSP process, which will enable Palau to improve its maritime domain awareness; allocate uses of its ocean waters and reduce conflicts between users; establish marine protected areas; promote conservation; and incorporate a scientific understanding of expected climate change impacts on the country’s marine and coastal resources.
Depending on a country’s context, other policy tools may also warrant development support. For example, the establishment of “ocean” clusters –geographic concentrations of interconnected firms and companies operating in the ocean economy (OECD, 2009[20]) – can help to diffuse knowledge, technologies and partnerships, thereby promoting innovation. Current examples of ocean clusters are primarily based in higher income countries such as the United States, Canada, and Iceland (Conathan, 2021[21]). However, channelling development co-operation to industrial and private sector development activities may help developing countries to set up and leverage ocean clusters for ocean-based economic development.
Support inclusive institutions and practices to co-ordinate ocean stakeholders
Development co-operation providers can support the creation of a (formal or informal) cross-sectoral co-ordination mechanism with a mandate for collaborative sustainable ocean economy decision-making and delivery to provide strategic oversight across the institutional system. Such mechanisms can be a practical resource for developing countries in balancing the trade-offs between ocean uses and goals in the delivery of their sustainable ocean economy policies (e.g. by convening relevant stakeholders). They can also foster co-ordination between ocean-related ODA and broader ODA-related activities in the country. Providers’ contributions to the formation of these co-ordination mechanisms can range from awareness-raising and advocacy (e.g. of good practices) to technical assistance (e.g. setting up a data sharing platform).
The most effective institutional arrangements are likely to be country-specific; so, providers can tailor their support to the specific mechanisms adopted by partner countries. The overarching vision adopted by developing countries will inform the shape and composition of their co-ordinating mechanism, which would influence which stakeholders are most prevalent in managing the local ocean economy. Coordination mechanisms for ocean governance can take various forms, including dedicated ministries with expanded responsibilities (e.g. Ministry for the Maritime Economy in Cabo Verde and the Department of Blue Economy in the Seychelles), and ocean economy committees or interministerial units operating under the central government. Bangladesh, for instance, has created the Blue Economy Cell – an interministerial platform responsible for developing a roadmap and co-ordinating efforts across ministries to advance a sustainable ocean economy (OECD, 2020[19]).
Generally, engaging all relevant stakeholders – including Indigenous peoples and local communities, as well as women, youth and other marginalised groups – is critical for effective co-ordination and policy implementation. Participation is a way of improving the quality and effectiveness of governance outcomes, for example, by generating goodwill and buy-in, and by bringing in a wide range of knowledge and perspectives to underpin robust decisions (Bennett, 2018[22]; Lockwood, 2010[23]). In addition to systematically engaging with stakeholders in their ocean-related programming, development co-operation providers can provide capacity and financial support to partner countries to strengthen participatory governance (Box 3.2).
Disseminating innovative experiences in participatory management for mangrove protection in Senegal
The European Union’s ECLOSIO project in Senegal targets the mobilisation of civil society and local decision making for the sustainable management of natural resources. Specifically, the initiative supports community approaches to participatory, equitable and sustainable management of the natural resources in coastal mangrove forests. Its main objective is to strengthen citizen responsibility for the management of these sensitive ecosystems, including supporting local capacity to monitor the health of mangrove ecosystems. It also builds up knowledge and awareness among local communities of the ecosystem services provided by mangrove forests if they are protected.
Strengthening integrated resources management in coastal communities in Quezon, Philippines through participatory governance
This initiative, also developed by the European Union targets the protection of the economic and political rights of municipal fishers in Quezon, Philippines, by forming Integrated Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Councils in Lamon Bay. The project aims to enhance local fisherfolk’s participation in the local governance of their resources. It promotes co-ordination and co-operation among local government units (LGUs), particularly in pooling manpower and financial resources for bay-wide coastal and fisheries resources management in Lamon Bay. LGUs and other stakeholders also receive specific training in the more integrated management of local ocean-related resources.
A multistakeholder approach to regional ocean governance
The Western Indian Ocean (WIO) Governance project, initiated by Germany and co-financed by the European Union, focuses on improving regional policy dialogue and developing multi-stakeholder partnerships between a variety of actors in the WIO region, including the private sector, for a sustainable ocean economy. Key to the project is the multi-stakeholder initiative Our Blue Future, which creates effective mechanisms to bring together a wide range of stakeholders from government, business and civil society.
Facilitate monitoring and evaluation of ocean-related policies
Development co-operation can help enhance developing countries’ monitoring and evaluation (M&E) capacities. Adaptive monitoring and decision making are particularly useful to address the issue of climate change effectively. For example, when monitoring and evaluating MPAs, authorities need to account for changing conditions induced by climate change. Robust data series on key environmental variables and economic activities are important for this. Information must be accessible, easy to locate, and adhere to quality standards, ensuring it is available in appropriate formats for public use (Winther et al., 2020[24]). Development co-operation can play a role here as a supporter of knowledge generation (e.g., channelling resources to research activities) and robust data management practices. Additionally, statistical capacity development for ocean accounts can help create an integrated system of data to measure different objectives in the ocean economy, therefore forming a basis for monitoring and evaluation (Box 3.3).
Development co-operation providers can also ensure that data available globally are not underused in decision making in developing countries due to technology and other capacity constraints. Advancements in technology can help governments monitor activities at sea. For example, Global Fishing Watch provides near real-time tracking of fishing activity through a public online map, demonstrating how transparency and digital tools can enhance sustainable governance. When integrated with co-ordinated enforcement efforts, such technologies become powerful instruments for strengthening ocean management and compliance (Winther et al., 2020[24]).
While improving access to data and generating new datasets is important, development co-operation providers can also promote the use of the best available information, including traditional knowledge, in monitoring and evaluation practices. For instance, many SIDS and LDCs lack historical climatological, environmental, and economic data or sufficiently disaggregated models necessary to ascertain climate trends. Collecting data from the ground up and/or building statistical systems (like ocean accounts) can often be time and resource intensive. The knowledge possessed by Indigenous peoples and communities – which has been gathered over generations of lived experiences and often exists in many SIDS and LDC contexts – can help address data gaps without subjecting monitoring and evaluating practices to a heavy data burden and lengthy delays (UNDP; PIF; FCDO, 2023[25]).
Similar to national accounts, ocean accounts are a way to compile standardised and comparable data on ocean-related data across various dimensions (i.e. economic, environmental, social). They are essentially a collection of data tables3 organised around a conceptual framework (as shown in Figure 3.3). The central and standardised nature of ocean accounts means that they can help set measurable objectives, monitor implementation, and evaluate outcomes and impacts (Hollaway et al., n.d.[4]).
Note: Hollaway et al. (n.d.[4]), Ocean Accounts for Sustainable Ocean Plans: Enabling Decision-Makers to Measure Progress, https://www.oceanaccounts.org/ocean-accounts-for-sustainable-ocean-plans-enabling-decision-makers-to-measure-progress/.
Support to creating ocean accounts can be one way for development co-operation to advance a sustainable ocean economy. Norway and Indonesia, for instance, have agreed to establish a partnership for developing Indonesia’s ocean accounts through the programme Ocean for Development (OfD) (Norad, 2020[26]). As a long-term bilateral institutional co-operation, it involves many governmental institutions in both countries working shoulder-to-shoulder. It showcases the importance of cross-stakeholders and involvement when developing a management tool to achieve a sustainable ocean economy. The OfD also supports the Indonesian Government in their efforts to coordinate the ocean accounts work nationally through an interministerial and stakeholder working group.
Given the relative nascency nature of ocean accounts, piloting accounts for different ocean economy sectors (e.g. tourism) or environment assets can be a sensible approach for developing countries. These pilots are often facilitated by organisations like the Global Ocean Accounts Partnership (GOAP). One example comes from Fiji, where the GOAP, together with other academic partners and experts, helped develop accounts on the condition of mangroves and their direct economic benefits. The exercise revealed several challenges and lessons, including on the quality and reliability of data, stakeholder engagement and communication, connecting accounts to policy objectives, and estimating the economic value of ecosystem benefits, as detailed in GOAP Secretariat (2022[27]).
Create processes and mechanisms that improve coordination between providers’ agencies supporting the sustainable ocean economy in developing countries
Promoting a common understanding of aims and ambitions across provider agencies operating in the ocean economy is essential for an integrated approach to development co-operation. In effect, the steps that development co-operation providers can follow to make certain that their interventions are coherent mirror those that developing countries can take to develop and implement ocean strategies.
Establishing dedicated strategies for ocean-related development co-operation could help create a high-level vision around which providers can organise their interventions. Even in the absence of standalone strategies, aligning aims across sector-specific or thematic development policy frameworks can help achieve the goal of integration. Regardless of the precise approach, a starting point for unifying activities under a common vision is to adopt a definition – whether formal or working – of what a sustainable ocean economy means, based on the goals for development co-operation for a sustainable ocean economy outlined in Chapter 2.
Policy instruments can be complemented with practical mechanisms such as co-ordination platforms. While the level of formality and precise shape of these platforms depends on country preferences and underlying internal structures, the unifying purpose, however, is to bring together different disbursing and implementing agencies to ensure that ocean-related programming is contributing to common objectives.
Ensure co-ordination between different development co-operation providers operating in a given partner country or region
Co-ordination between development co-operation providers is key to avoiding duplication and gaps in support to the ocean economy. As for development co-operation in general, poor co-ordination can have negative impacts on providers (e.g. competing projects, duplication of efforts), as well as partners (e.g. over-burdening of national staff, the co-opting of national development strategies and priorities). In some instances, successive waves of providers have entered the same context and attempted similar projects to those that have previously failed. Systematic sharing of lessons learned and reporting on project failures could reduce the frequency of such events occurring. In the ocean economy, providers tend to focus their development interventions on specific sectors. For example, Japan directs a large proportion of its ocean economy ODA towards the maritime shipping sector, while Iceland focuses its investments almost entirely on the fisheries sector. This variance in focus allows providers to co-ordinate their interventions and ensure that interlinkages (whether harmonious or conflicting) between sectors are taken into account in the overall portfolio of development co-operation.
There are multiple ways that providers can co-ordinate their efforts. New providers can strive to work together with providers already supporting ocean priorities in a given partner country. This can not only help reduce the burden on already over-burdened public administrations in developing countries, but also efficiently channel new support to already identified but underfunded projects related to the sustainable ocean economy. More formally, joint programme funding, whether through global or regional programmes or co-financing projects at the country level, can help pool provider resources and reduce fragmentation.
Setting up fora, whether formal or informal, for providers to exchange on lessons learned can also help improve coordination and the effectiveness of development co-operation for the sustainable ocean economy. This may be particularly relevant for support to areas where data and knowledge on good practices are lacking (e.g. emerging ocean economy sectors) and where some trial and error might be required. In such cases, regular exchange between providers can help identify successful pilot initiatives that can be scaled up or replicated elsewhere.
References
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[1] UNEP Finance Initiative (2025, forthcoming), Transitioning a Sustainable Blue Economy.
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← 1. UNEP has also developed a Sustainable Blue Economy Rapid Readiness Assessment, which brings decision-makers and stakeholders together to develop a shared understanding of a country’s existing legal framework, institutional mechanisms, and social, environmental and economic landscape to identify entry-points, gaps and recommendations for priority actions, including resource needs.
← 2. The Aichi Targets were a set of 20 specific, measurable goals adopted by the Convention on Biological Diversity in 2010 to address biodiversity loss by 2020. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) has replaced the Aichi Targets, with new targets for 2030 and 2050.
← 3. One component of ocean accounts is a measure of the contribution of ocean-based activities to a country’s overall economy (see https://doi.org/10.1787/aff5375b-en). This measure goes beyond standard economic statistics, which are not sufficiently granular to deduce how much of the economy is ocean-dependent.