Brown, Sustainable or Regenerative Blue Economy vs. Tourism & Scuba Diving

What is the Blue Economy? Scuba diving must be managed sustainably to avoid negative impacts on the ecosystems that make it a valuable Blue Economy sector.

Different stakeholders have historically defined and interpreted the evolving concept of the Blue Economy globally in various ways, often reflecting their specific priorities and contexts. The term has seen different interpretations over time, shifting from focusing on traditional maritime economic activities to a more holistic view encompassing sustainability and regeneration.

This post is part of our Blueprints 4.0 for a Healthier Dive Industry Business Model series by the Business of Diving Institute and Darcy Kieran, author of:

In this article, I will summarize what the Blue Economy is and how it is related to tourism and scuba diving, using the following references:

Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
United Nations (UN)
European Union (EU)
World Bank
Western Australia
World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
Dr. Alex Brylske

A Brown Blue Economy

Initially, the Blue Economy was closely linked to the traditional marine economy or “Ocean Economy,” which included sectors like shipbuilding, shipping, port activities, navies, fishing, and aquaculture.

This was often seen through a focus on economic growth and job creation from ocean-related activities, sometimes called a “brown Blue Economy.”

High economic and social expectations were placed on “Blue Growth” to increase national GDPs through industrial marine activities. The European Commission and countries like India with deep-sea mining initially adopted broad interpretations that included all marine economic activities.

A Sustainable Blue Economy

The concept evolved with the growing awareness of environmental degradation and the need for sustainable development. The Rio+20 Summit in 2012 recognized the Blue Economy as encompassing all economic activities in the maritime sector, provided they were consistent with sustainable development.

This led to the emergence of the “sustainable Blue Economy,” which aims to balance economic growth with ocean health.

The World Bank defined the blue economy as the “sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs while preserving the ocean’s health.”
The European Commission also defined it as “all economic activities related to oceans, seas and coasts” to achieve the European Green Deal’s objectives and ensure a green and inclusive recovery.
The Economist Intelligence Unit (2015) defined it as a state where “economic activity is in balance with the long-term capacity of ocean ecosystems to support this activity and remain resilient and healthy,” emphasizing the simultaneous enhancement of ocean health and economic growth with social equity and inclusion.
The World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) proposes visions and principles for a more sustainable and inclusive blue economy. They emphasize social and economic benefits for current and future generations while contributing to food security, poverty eradication, and health. They highlight the need for a holistic, cross-sectoral, and long-term approach.

Island Nations

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) played a significant role in pushing for a more sustainable and inclusive Blue Economy, emphasizing the need to protect marine ecosystems critical for their livelihoods and resilience to climate change.

They sought to extend the green economy concept to be more applicable to their circumstances. Their vision often predates 2012, with Pacific Island Countries (PICs) in 2009 highlighting sustainable management of ocean resources for livelihoods, equitable benefit-sharing, and ecosystem resilience.

Additional information on Island Nations vs. Scuba Diving is available here.

A Regenerative Blue Economy

More recently, a demand for a “regenerative Blue Economy” has emerged, going beyond sustainability to actively contribute to the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss, aiming to be “Ocean-positive.”

This interpretation often excludes activities considered incompatible with carbon reduction goals or too threatening to marine ecosystems, such as oil extraction and deep-sea mining in their traditional forms.

A regenerative Blue Economy emphasizes the regeneration and protection of ocean and coastal ecosystems with sustainable, low, or no-carbon economic activities and fair prosperity. It also stresses inclusive and participatory governance based on the ecosystem approach.

The OECD recognized the growing need for a sustainable blue economy, emphasizing protecting and conserving coastal and marine ecosystems. Their work focuses on a territorial approach to the blue economy at subnational levels, promoting resilient, inclusive, sustainable, and circular blue economies.

Regional Blue Economies

Countries and regions have adopted their own definitions and strategies based on their unique national circumstances, maritime zones, economic activities, and innovation potential.

Western Australia’s stakeholders defined a sustainable blue economy as including all ocean-related economic activities that enable desirable benefits while preserving or regenerating ocean health.
The Seychelles adopted a strategic framework to foster a blue economy through innovation and knowledge while safeguarding the marine environment.

So What Is The Blue Economy?

Overall, the Blue Economy concept has evolved from a purely economic focus on marine resources to a more integrated approach that prioritizes environmental sustainability, social inclusion, and, increasingly, ecological regeneration.

The multitude of definitions and interpretations reflects stakeholders’ diverse values and priorities worldwide.

Blue Economy vs. Tourism

The Blue Economy significantly relates to coastal and maritime tourism, which are often considered vital sectors within its scope. The Blue Economy aims for sustainable and equitable economic growth through oceans-related sectors and activities, making well-managed tourism a key component.

Tourism as a Blue Economy Sector: Coastal and maritime tourism is a sector of the Blue Economy. It includes various forms, such as scuba diving, maritime archaeology, surfing, cruises, ecotourism, and recreational fishing operations. The EU Blue Economy Report 2024 identifies coastal tourism as a significant established sector.
Economic Importance: Tourism, predominantly maritime and coastal tourism, can be a significant source of foreign exchange and is tied to the social, economic, and environmental well-being of many countries, including SIDS and coastal LDCs. It has played a key role in developing many island economies and reducing poverty. In Grenada, for example, the blue economy is closely linked to income generated by ocean-related tourism, which is the largest industry. The economic impact of yachting alone in Grenada is over EC$230 million, and the scuba diving segment is estimated to contribute around EC$57 million.
Sustainability Imperative: For tourism to be a positive contributor to the Blue Economy, it must be sustainable. This means it should promote the conservation and sustainable use of marine environments and species, generate income for local communities (thus alleviating poverty), and maintain and respect local cultures, traditions, and heritage. The “sustainable Blue Economy” framework integrates activities that protect, repair, and restore marine and coastal ecosystems.
Decoupling Development from Degradation: The Blue Economy concept seeks to decouple socioeconomic development through oceans-related sectors like tourism from environmental and ecosystems degradation. Challenges such as climate change impacts (rising sea levels, extreme weather, rising temperatures) can directly and indirectly affect tourism.
Blue Tourism: “Blue Tourism” has emerged as a sustainable alternative to traditional mass tourism in coastal and maritime areas. It is typically a low-impact activity that promotes local communities and conserves natural resources. It’s not the activity itself; it is defined by its impacts and how it’s organized and operated.
Potential Negative Impacts: Unsustainable tourism can harm the marine environment. In the Caribbean, large blooms of sargassum seaweed, fueled partly by untreated sewage, have negatively impacted the tourism industry. Unsustainable investments in coastal and maritime tourism operations can lead to waste disposal issues, marine litter and pollution, physical alteration of coastlines, coastal erosion, and disruption of land-sea connections.
Policy and Management: Well-managed and monitored tourism can contribute to the sustainable development of SIDS and coastal LDCs. Policies, programs, and interventions aimed at these economies can benefit from including tourism as a sector to help accelerate sustainable consumption and production patterns in the development of the Blue Economy. Coastal and marine spatial planning (CMSP) is a policy tool that can integrate considerations of natural capital into the regulation of tourism and other economic activities.
Cross-Sector Coordination: Cross-sector coordination is critical for tourism to be a successful part of a Blue Economy approach. Tourism must be considered in connection with sustainable fisheries, agribusiness, transport, and rural development. For example, yachting requires coordination with maritime transport.
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Sustainable tourism can contribute to achieving SDG 14 (Life Below Water) targets by reducing marine pollution, building ecosystem and human resilience, and financing marine protected areas. More broadly, the transition to a blue economy, including sustainable tourism, can contribute to many other SDGs related to food, jobs, economic growth, and climate action.

In essence, the relationship between the Blue Economy and tourism is one where sustainable tourism practices are essential for tourism to contribute positively to the Blue Economy’s overarching goals, including economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability.

The transition towards “Blue Tourism” represents a move away from potentially damaging mass tourism towards models that support ocean health and local communities.

More on this topic: Adventure Tourism & The Blue Economy.

Blue Economy & Scuba Diving

The Blue Economy has a significant relationship with scuba diving, primarily through the lens of sustainable tourism and recreation, which are key sectors within the broader Blue Economy framework.

Scuba Diving as Part of the Blue Economy: Scuba diving falls under the umbrella of maritime and coastal tourism, which is recognized as an important economic activity within the Blue Economy. For example, the EU Blue Economy Report 2024 includes coastal tourism as a major established sector. In Grenada, scuba diving is explicitly mentioned as an ocean-related tourism activity contributing significantly to the economy, generating around EC$57 million.
Dependence on Healthy Marine Ecosystems: The appeal of scuba diving is intrinsically linked to the health and biodiversity of underwater environments, such as coral reefs and other marine habitats. These ecosystems are considered natural capital assets that underpin the Blue Economy, including diving tourism. The Blue Economy emphasizes the importance of managing these assets sustainably.
Economic Benefits and Blue Growth: Sustainable scuba diving can contribute to “blue growth,” which is how an unsustainable ocean economy can transition towards a more balanced and sustainable one. Revenue generated from diving activities should support local economies, create jobs, and incentivize the protection of the marine areas that attract scuba divers.
Sustainability is Key: For scuba diving to positively contribute to the Blue Economy, it must be practiced sustainably to minimize its environmental impact. This includes responsible diving practices that avoid damaging coral reefs and other sensitive habitats, as well as proper management of dive sites to prevent overcrowding and pollution. The Blue Economy aims to decouple economic development from environmental degradation.
Potential for Funding Conservation: Revenue from sustainable scuba diving operations can sometimes be reinvested in marine conservation efforts. This contributes to the “regenerative Blue Economy” concept, where economic activities actively contribute to the health of aquatic ecosystems. For example, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) can be attractive dive destinations, and the fees or economic activity associated with diving can help fund their management.
Threats from Unsustainable Practices: Conversely, unsustainable diving practices or damage to marine environments from other sectors (like pollution or coastal development) can negatively impact the scuba diving industry and its economic contributions. For example, the degradation of coral reefs due to climate change or pollution would directly affect the attractiveness of a dive destination.
Integration with Policy and Management: Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning (CMSP) is a policy tool that can help manage the use of ocean spaces for various activities, including tourism, like scuba diving, while considering the need to conserve natural capital. This integrated approach is crucial for a well-functioning Blue Economy.

In summary, scuba diving represents a tangible link between a healthy marine environment and economic activity within a sustainable or regenerative Blue Economy.

Sustainable diving practices can contribute to economic growth and provide incentives for marine conservation, aligning with the core principles of the Blue Economy. However, it is essential that scuba diving is managed sustainably to avoid negative impacts on the very ecosystems that make it a valuable Blue Economy sector.

You may also be interested in the following podcast episode about Brown, Sustainable or Regenerative Blue Economy vs. Tourism & Scuba Diving:

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