The Alliance for the Blue Economy ("All Blue") is a local, multidisciplinary initiative to establish Wilmington and southeast North Carolina as a national and global leader in the Blue Economy.
The World Bank describes the Blue Economy as the "sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs, while preserving the health of the ocean ecosystem."
As a CIE program, All Blue's mission is to:
Oceans and rivers are critical to life on our planet. Not only do they provide drinking water, oxygen, and food, they also support countless businesses and millions of jobs. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), ocean-based businesses such as commercial fishing, shipping, tourism, wind energy, and biopharmaceuticals, among others, deliver $361 billion in good and services to the U.S. economy annually and supported 2.2 million jobs.
Yet, our oceans and waterways are facing increasing threats from climate change, pollution, and over-fishing. Parts of the oceans have seven times more plastic than fish. Climate change is warming waters, making it more difficult for fish to reproduce and thrive. Rising sea levels are endangering coastal habitats.
The Blue Economy is a global concept to align ocean economic growth with sustainable ocean and coastal health. The Blue Economy is recognized by The World Bank as "the sustainable use of ocean resources fo economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs while preserving the health of the ocean ecosystem."
In establishing the Alliance for the Blue Economy, southeastern North Carolina joins a growing list of Blue Economy hubs in locations such as Boston, Seattle, southern California, the Great Lakes, Alaska, Iceland, and Newfoundland.
Around the world, Blue Economy alliances and hubs are fostering innovation in coastal and oceanic observation, sustainable aquaculture and fisheries, carbon sequestration, and healthy ocean ecosystems to ensure that the ocean's resources sustainably thrive for future generations.
Southeastern North Carolina is ideally positioned to become a viable Blue Economy hub for several reasons that are unique in the nation:
Some examples include: