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About All Blue, The Alliance For The Blue Economy

The Alliance for the Blue Economy ("All Blue")

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:

  • Support Blue Economy high-impact entrepreneurs and innovators
  • Promote the region as an innovation hub and attract Blue Economy investment capital
  • Gain recognition as an eventual global leader in Blue Economy solutions
  • Champion diversity, equity, inclusion, and sustainability

What is the blue economy?

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.

 

Why Wilmington?

Southeastern North Carolina is ideally positioned to become a viable Blue Economy hub for several reasons that are unique in the nation:

  • We're adjacent to the second largest coastline and river estuary in the U.S.
  • Southeastern NC has the second largest coastal access to open ocean on the East Coast.
  • We're cultivating a growing reputation as a leader in technology-focused businesses that employ highly skilled workers.
  • We're home to UNCW (scientific research), NCPorts (commercial application and deployment), and Cape Fear Community College (workforce training). Taken together, these institutions advance Blue Economy science and technologies. (UNCW alone has more than 100 faculty engaged in marine sciences and ocean/coastal preservation.)

What are some examples of the "Blue Economy"?

Some examples include:

  1. Marine Engineering and IT: Robotics and Advanced Data Science Analytics
  2. Marine Biology: Marine Ecosystems, Sustainable Seafood and Aquaculture
  3. Marine Biotechnology: Pharmacology, Natural Products, Water and Waste Systems and Testing
  4. Coastal Resilience: Sustainable Hospitality and Recreation, Economic Durability, Infrastructure and Disaster Recovery

Key All Blue Activities

  • Public outreach and education - Through programs and events such as:
  • Blue Economy Financial Index
  • All Blue interns
  • Marine Energy Collegiate Competition - To gain traction in entrepreneurship related to, Marine Engineering and IT, the CIE is has developed a semester-long, inter-university program with NC A&T with the first cohort launched in January 2021. UNCW students in marine and environmental sciences will work in teams with engineering and computer science students from A&T to develop new products and software solutions needed by the Center for Marine Science, NC Ports, environmental agencies and local marine businesses.
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