The new innovators in the footsteps of the coronavirus

This chapter explores the regeneration of minds through the light of past experiences and with regard to the many innovative examples that are already emerging. Innovation is currently seen as positive and indispensable in companies, where all employees are now expected to be innovators. The innovator is basically an explorer, a discoverer like Christopher Columbus. Corporate hacking is the act of acting outside the rules of the company, more like a "rebel" and less like a "good soldier". The lockdown period was conducive, on the one hand, to the natural emergence of fears and, on the other hand, to the emergence of a collective and of group thinking. New innovators will hybridize existing models and create new agile and sustainable methods with reference to the future. Going all digital will not be enough, neither will going all local. The blue economy is, in this respect, a very inspiring idea. © ISTE Ltd 2022.

Putting coastal communities at the center of a sustainable blue economy: A review of risks, opportunities, and strategies

New approaches to ocean governance for coastal communities are needed. With few exceptions, the status quo does not meet the diverse development aspirations of coastal communities or ensure healthy oceans for current and future generations. The blue economy is expected to grow to USD2.5–3 trillion by 2030, and there is particular interest in its potential to alleviate poverty in Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States, and to support a blue recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper presents a selective, thematic review of the blue economy literature to examine: (i) the opportunities and risks for coastal communities, (ii) the barriers and enablers that shape community engagement, and (iii) the strategies employed by communities and supporting organizations, which can be strengthened to deliver a ‘sustainable' blue economy and improve social justice for coastal communities. Our review finds that under business-as-usual and blue growth, industrial fisheries, large-scale aquaculture, land reclamation, mining, and oil and gas raise red flags for communities and marine ecosystems. Whereas, if managed sustainably, small-scale fisheries, coastal aquaculture, seaweed farming and eco-tourism are the most likely to deliver benefits to communities. Yet, these are also the sectors most vulnerable to negative and cumulative impacts from other sectors. Based on our evaluation of enablers, barriers and strategies, the paper argues that putting coastal communities at the center of a clear vision for an inclusive Sustainable Blue Economy and co-developing a shared and accessible language for communities, practitioners and policy-makers is essential for a more equitable ocean economy, alongside mainstreaming social justice principles and integrated governance that can bridge different scales of action and opportunity. Copyright © 2023 Evans, Buchan, Fortnam, Honig and Heaps.

How the pre and post COVID-19 era have shaped system understanding of the socioeconomic impact of small-scale inland fisheries

The current study provided a socioeconomic quantification of small-scale inland fisheries in East Africa using fish market information data for major markets in the pre (2009–2017) and post COVID-19 containment (Jan–May 2022) eras. The socioeconomic status index (SEI) incorporated 6 dimensions: access to fresh fish, access to market, available fish processing (drying) infrastructure, favourable price range, high quantity range traded, and high seasonal profit margins;using three major commercial fishes (Nile perch, Tilapia and Dagaa) and the season (pre and post COVID-19) as the main independent variables. The SEI was calculated using a segmented sociometric scale interval as: ≥ 4.21Very High ≤5.00;≥3.41 High ≤4.20;≥2.61 Moderate ≤3.40;≥1.81 Low ≤2.60;and ≤1.00 Very Low ≤1.80. The socioeconomic quantification was highly dependent on COVID-19 containment periods that reflected very high (pre COVID-19 = 4.67, post COVID-19 = 4.06) impacts on small-scale inland fisheries. This suggested a negative impact of COVID-19 on small-scale inland fisheries attributed to various factors such as disrupted value chains, reduced purchasing power among the customers, struggles by businesses to compensate for losses incurred during the pandemic, and diversion of economic focus. The impact had a lower proportion on Dagaa, given its low value compared to the other two major commercial species. The quantification of fish data during a pandemic is useful to provide mitigation measures for shocks that could be anticipated in the sector for sustainable fish-food systems. © 2022 The Author(s)

A review of the blue economy, potential, and opportunities in seven Caribbean nations pre-COVID-19

Caribbean countries face many challenges to effectively implement and benefit from the blue economy. This study synthesized current available information from the literature about the main blue economy activities in the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Suriname, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, to highlight their value in the context of blue economic recovery. This timestamp of data provides a point of comparison to understand the vulnerability of blue economy sectors to external shocks. The top performing sectors prior to the pandemic were shipping and tourism, both of which were significant contributors to the GDP. The other sectors (e.g. fisheries, aquaculture, pharmaceuticals, etc.) in some countries were well established and in others, at a minimum, displayed potential for continued development. To valorize the blue economy in a post pandemic recovery, there are three core areas of opportunity: sustainable resource extraction and production;cultivated economic development;and improved ecosystem economic valuations. Harnessing these opportunities will require a transition from a traditional ocean economy towards a coordinated blue economy, including the adoption of effective governance and sustainability principles, improved social, economic, and environmental valuations, and sustainable financing, as well as a more regional coordinated approach to the management of resources.

How the pre and post COVID-19 era have shaped system understanding of the socioeconomic impact of small-scale inland fisheries

The current study provided a socioeconomic quantification of small-scale inland fisheries in East Africa using fish market information data for major markets in the pre (2009–2017) and post COVID-19 containment (Jan–May 2022) eras. The socioeconomic status index (SEI) incorporated 6 dimensions: access to fresh fish, access to market, available fish processing (drying) infrastructure, favourable price range, high quantity range traded, and high seasonal profit margins;using three major commercial fishes (Nile perch, Tilapia and Dagaa) and the season (pre and post COVID-19) as the main independent variables. The SEI was calculated using a segmented sociometric scale interval as: ≥ 4.21Very High ≤5.00;≥3.41 High ≤4.20;≥2.61 Moderate ≤3.40;≥1.81 Low ≤2.60;and ≤1.00 Very Low ≤1.80. The socioeconomic quantification was highly dependent on COVID-19 containment periods that reflected very high (pre COVID-19 = 4.67, post COVID-19 = 4.06) impacts on small-scale inland fisheries. This suggested a negative impact of COVID-19 on small-scale inland fisheries attributed to various factors such as disrupted value chains, reduced purchasing power among the customers, struggles by businesses to compensate for losses incurred during the pandemic, and diversion of economic focus. The impact had a lower proportion on Dagaa, given its low value compared to the other two major commercial species. The quantification of fish data during a pandemic is useful to provide mitigation measures for shocks that could be anticipated in the sector for sustainable fish-food systems.

Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance 2021: Symposium report.

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and rising geopolitical tension, the global ocean's peaceful use and sustainable development face challenges. On November 9-10, the 2021 Symposium on Global Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance was hosted in Sanya, China, both online and offline. The conference covered a wide range of topics, from objective challenges over ocean governance to regional institutions building. Staff from academia and government agencies were brought together to discuss the current direction of the issues.

Sustainable development and finance post-pandemic - future directions and challenges

Sustainable development, finance and related global policies and mechanisms have evolved over the decades. Today, regional initiatives for classifying sustainable activities exist, and several decades' research and development of ecosystem services and natural capital have identified and tested alternative economic models. The World Bank has the potential to finance them and sustainability at the landscape scale is achievable. But economic and environmental values can come into conflict. In developing countries, sustainable alternatives exist in business activities such as coastal and marine tourism. Financing small businesses through sound digital infrastructure is critical, as is the use of public fiscal instruments for the sustainable use of natural resources. Despite its developed status, renewable energy policies in the EU are leading to forest destruction. Financial vehicles such as green bonds have a similar potential. To avoid greenwashing, more focus needs to be on meeting the needs of those at the base of the economic pyramid, resourcing them with smart technologies and valuing civic engagement. Climate finance must be ethical and its allocation have integrity;this will foster community resilience. To avoid repeating the mistakes of terrestrial development, the world's oceans need to be protected and new business models adopted in this expanding frontier. Now is the time for all sectors to create a sustainable future for the planet and its inhabitants in the post-COVID, postcarbon era to come. © 2022 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.

Evaluating the governance of sustainable development: The quality and legitimacy of the blue economy

This chapter analyses multi-stakeholder perspectives on the governance and sustainability of different blue economy initiatives from both developed and developing countries. The study was conducted in 2020 using an anonymous online survey following an analytical method based on principles, criteria and indicators. Respondents rated the quality of these initiatives on a Likert scale (1-5) based on 11 indicators. The results show that the Sustainable Ocean Initiative received the highest score, while Marine permaculture scored the lowest. blue economy initiatives were considered inclusive by respondents;however, resources and capacity were deemed insufficient. Respondents from the Global South (developing countries) rated the initiatives higher than those from the Global North (developed countries) perhaps because developing countries are the prime beneficiaries of these programmes and receive more funding and assistance. These findings support policy and decision-makers formulating policies based on stakeholders' opinions and focussing on low-scoring initiatives. The blue economy is a growing sector with high potential for sustainable development;however, various factors, notably the COVID-19 pandemic, are obstructing its advancement. Therefore, effective communication, collaborative efforts and substantial and sustainable finance are vital for ensuring the sustainability of the blue economy in both the Global North and the Global South. © 2022 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.

Sustainable ocean development and the blue economy

Part 5 of this Handbook begins with a general introduction to the concepts and definitions underlying the notion of the blue economy and continues with an exploration of challenges and controversies confronting the sustainable development of the marine environment. The tensions inherent in the idea that the marine environment can be both exploited for human use and protected for its intrinsic natural values, reflect the origins of the concept of sustainable development itself and these are explored in the chapters presented in this section. These cover an examination of the ethics and values underpinning the blue economy, the role that blue finance can play in advancing sustainable development, particularly for tourism and local communities dependent on the oceans for their wellbeing. The views of various stakeholders on the quality and legitimacy of the governance of a range of blue economy initiatives are also explored, as is the extent to which, philosophically speaking, ocean development can be understood as genuinely sustainable, whatever the rhetoric may be. A concluding chapter from practitioners of marine permaculture completes the perspectives of the contributing authors on the complexities and contradictions within humanity's use of the many and various resources of the world's oceans and in the wake of COVID-19. © 2022 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.

De Gruyter Handbook of sustainable development and finance

The De Gruyter Handbook of Sustainable Development and Finance explores the difficult and challenging issues confronting society and the environment, in the contexts of unprecedented climate change, bio-diversity loss and the global pandemic. In this seminal text exploring a wide range of topics, and in the devastating wake of COVID-19, scholars and practitioners analyse the effectiveness of current and proposed actions to build a sustainable future, and the public and private finance necessary to prevent an impending planetary catastrophe. The first section of the handbook introduces readers to the origins and evolution of sustainable development. An examination of public and private finance follows in the next two sections, presented from the perspectives of authors from both 'developed' and 'developing' countries. Climate change, one of the largest sectors of finance for sustainable development, is investigated in detail, as is the new and emerging development frontier, the 'blue' economy of the world's oceans. Suitable for students, policymakers and the public at large, the handbook highlights the lessons learned and points the way forward for sustainable development and finance in the wake of the global pandemic, and the challenges to come. © 2022 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.

The blue economy's retreat from equity: A decade under global negotiation

Heralded as a key agenda for sustainable ocean development, the blue economy has risen to such prominence over the last decade that it is near impossible to engage in the fields of ocean governance or development without encountering it. The exact nature of the blue economy's sustainable ocean development promise, however, remains stubbornly unresolved, with different actors advancing varying, at times conflicting, visions of what sustainable ocean development should look like, how it is to be achieved, and who it is to serve. Tracing the various constructions of blue economy promises over the last decade, this paper contends that the blue economy has progressively retreated from its early commitment to equitable benefit sharing, shifting instead to a deepening preoccupation with economic growth. For small island developing states (SIDS) and coastal least developed countries (LDCs) who took a leading role in embedding equitable benefit sharing within the blue economy during its early popularization, such retreat raises pressing questions over the agenda's continued suitability in advancing desired (and often much needed) sustainable development outcomes. This paper's attempt to grapple with such questions offers a timely contribution to discussions on the blue recovery and ocean-led development avenues in the wake of COVID-19. Copyright © 2022 Louey.

Blue bonds for marine conservation and a sustainable ocean economy: Status, trends, and insights from green bonds

Amid funding shortfalls to address ongoing ocean degradation, blue bonds are being designed to finance sustainable development and conservation projects in ocean and coastal areas via private sector investment. Blue bonds seek to deliver both positive environmental and/or social impact alongside a financial return on investment to investors. However, there has been limited academic scrutiny of these early initiatives to evaluate whether this rhetoric is justified. This article leverages 15-years of scholarship on green bonds to develop an analytical framework that is applied to five of the world’s first blue bonds. A comprehensive content analysis of sources such as blue bond project documents and secondary interviews is used to synthesise their characteristics, and consider trends related to their thematic scope, geographical scope, environmental impacts, and financial returns. Thematically, blue bond proceeds are channelled towards projects aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 ‘Life Below Water’, the Blue Economy, and policy discourse around the ‘blue recovery’ from covid-19. These projects range from marine protected area (MPA) creation, to improved fisheries management, and potentially, oil and gas exploration. However, greater explanation of the logic through which project activities are expected to deliver impact and returns is warranted. Equally, impact measurement is often underwhelming, with many bonds targeting easy-to-measure outputs (e.g., area conserved) rather than outcomes and impacts (e.g., increases in fish abundance). While an alluring and useful financial innovation, greater disclosure on the individual projects and enterprises that blue bonds finance is necessary to validate their sustainability credentials and inform investor decision making.

COVID-19 and the Spanish Celtic Sea fishery: An economic analysis

The Celtic Sea fishing fleet is the largest offshore fleet segment in Spain. Over the last three decades, this fleet has experienced a decrease in its number of vessels. This negative trend was intensified by another disruptive factor: The COVID-19 pandemic. Spain, one of the European countries most affected by this pandemic, implemented restrictive strategies in the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis that also affected fishing activities. The aim of this article is to analyze the effects of the COVID-19 crisis on the profitability, revenues and employment of Spanish shipowning companies whose vessels operate in the Celtic Sea. Through a population sample of 64 companies, the performance of variables such as turnover, total assets, number of employees, return on assets, return on equity or profit margin before interest and taxes has been assessed. The results show a variation of − 25% in turnover, − 10% in the number of employees and − 80% in economic and financial profitability. This is a case of failure of collective action, in which the lack of a contingency plan at the public and private level accentuated the negative consequences of the pandemic, especially in the first state of alarm. In addition, a strong interdependence was detected between the catches of the most valuable species and the activity of the HORECA channel.

COVID-19 restrictions and their influences on ambient air, surface water and plastic waste in a coastal megacity, Chennai, India.

Anthropogenic activities experienced a pause due to the nationwide lockdown, imposed to contain the rapid spread of COVID-19 in the third week of March 2020. The impacts of suspension of industrial activities, vehicular transport and other businesses for three months (25 March-30 June) on the environmental settings of Chennai, a coastal megacity was assessed. A significant reduction in the key urban air pollutants [PM2.5 (66.5%), PM10 (39.5%), NO2 (94.1%), CO (29%), O3 (45.3%)] was recorded as an immediate consequence of the reduced anthropogenic activities. Comparison of water quality of an urban river Adyar, between pre-lockdown and lockdown, showed a substantial drop in the dissolved inorganic N (47%) and suspended particulate matter (41%) during the latter period. During the pandemic, biomedical wastes in India showed an overall surge of 17%, which were predominantly plastic. FTIR-ATR analysis confirmed the polymers such as polypropylene (25.4%) and polyester (15.4%) in the personal protective equipment.