Blue economy and
coastal management
in the coming
decade
J. Colombage & L. Edirisinghe
Fourth National Symposium
On Marine Environment
20th October 2018 at Lotus Hall - BMICH

The Ocean
The ocean is
the life support
system for the
planet earth

• The oceans covers 71% of earth’s
surface and contains 97%
of planet’s water.
• Spreading civilizations, cultures,
religions and affect the climate
and weather.
• 03 Billion people depend on the Oceans for
their livelihoods
• Oceans contain nearly 200,000 identified species,
but actual number may lie in millions
The Ocean

The Ocean
• Main protein supplier for the humankind.
• Lifeline of many countries and
the economic live-wire .
• Carry 90% of internationally traded goods
• Generate 50% of the oxygen we breath (by Phytoplankton)
• Absorb as much as 40% of CO2 produced by humans,
buffering the impact of Global Warming

The main objective of the Blue
Economy should be to improve
quality of life of people
“The blue economy refers to a
sustainable ocean based economic
model that is largely dependent on
coastal and marine ecosystem and
resources”

Blue Economy: A
definition
•Blue Economy refers to a
“sustainable ocean based
economic model that is
largely dependent on
coastal, marine
ecosystems, sea routes
and resources”

BE encompasses all
economic activities
with a direct
dependence on the
ocean or coastal
marine sources

As such we must
understand what is good ;
1. for the ocean,
2. for the life within the ocean,
3. for the human communities
who depend on the ocean, and
4. for strengthening the diverse
services the ocean provides to
support all life on earth

Significance of the Study
As much as 40% of the
world oceans are heavily
affected by human
activities, including
Pollution, depleted
fisheries and loss of
coastal habitats

This paper
discusses,
What is Blue Economy
Threats to Blue Economy
Ocean Based and Ocean Related
Activities
New industries in Blue Economy
Coastal Management and the way
forward.

The World Bank reiterates the
potential of the blue economy in
terms of increasing long-term
benefits of the sustainable use of
marine resources for small island
developing states and coastal
least developed countries.

Ocean-based
Ocean-based activities are those undertaken in
the ocean such as
1. fisheries and marine culture,
2. offshore oil and gas,
3. mining,
4. ocean energy,
5. desalination,
6. shipping/marine transportation,
7. marine tourism and construction Marineculture Projects

Ocean-related
The ocean-related activities are the ones, which uses
products from the ocean, such as
seafood processing,
marine biotechnology,
chemicals,
salt and other products and
services for ocean and ocean based activities such as
shipbuilding and repair,
ports,
tourist resorts,
communication,
marine insurance and law, and
marine technical services

The threats of BE
Offshore oil and gas;
Commercial and recreational fishing;
Aquaculture projects; shipping;
Coastal tourism; and telecommunications.

Human-made Pollution
Oil Spills ; Dumping of Toxic Waste; Dumping of Plastics

Dumping of Untreated Sewer

Threats to Blue Economy
1. Offshore oil and gas
Exploration.
2. Commercial and
Recreational Fishing.
3. Marineculture
Projects.
4. Shipping.
5. Coastal Tourism.
6. Telecommunications.
7. Waste Disposal;
Plastics, Chemicals,
Oil

Huge Dead Zone in
Bay of Bengal
60,000 Sq Kms
1. Little or no oxygen
2. Do not Support
Microbial Process
3. Remove vast amount of
Nitrogen from Sea

Noise Pollution
Fish will have to wear
ear protection

Illegal
Unreported
Unregulated
Fishing
1. Fishing without License
2. Fishing over Quota
3. Fishing – not reported
4. Fishing with Prohibited Gear
5. Fishing of Prohibited species

Destructive Fishing
Methods
Chemicals or explosive devices,
Bottom trawling,
Unauthorized types of nets to
catch the fish

Red Snapper
Reduced
Average
Weight

There is no doubt
that the Blue
Economy is the way
forward for the
humankind in the
next decades to
come

Ocean Resource management in the Coming
Decade
Prevention and reducing all kinds of marine pollution
Sustainably manage marine and coastal ecosystems
Minimize and address the impact of ocean acidification
Effectively regulate harvesting and overfishing
Ban selling of IUU fishing
Increases scientific knowledge and develop research capacity

Pollution Prevention
Now: Ships depend
heavily on oil as a
fuel
Future: Solar
Powered Ships &
Wind Power

Blue Ocean Economy: Way Forward
1. Use of Marine Living Resources
2. Building Resilience of Marine Resources to the impact of Climate
Change
3. Marine Bio-diversity
4. Developing Technologies to set up Enterprises using Blue Eco System
wealth
5. We need man power; Scientists, Researchers, Entrepreneurs with
6. Blue Economic mind-set
7. Public Private Partnership

Sea Bed Minerals and
Hydro carbons
Gem, Ilmenite, Rutile,
Zircon, Monazite,
Manganese nodules,
Phosphate nodules and
crude oil and gas should be
available in commercially
viable exploitation
quantities in the IOR

Ocean Based Tourism
1. The Ocean, Its
Resources and
Natural Environment
2. New Forms of
Tourism to attract
High-end Ocean
Tourists; Value
Additions
3. Cruise Industry
4. Yacht Marina
5. Ocean Sports
6. Very High Growth
Potential
7. Leisure Industry at
Sea

New Industries in
Blue Economy
1. Renewable Energy.
2. Seabed Mining.
3. Remediation/restoration.
4. Blue Biotechnology.
5. Blue Technology.

Fishing Industry
• We are an Island Nation surrounded by
sea
• But we import Fish, Dried fish, Maldive
fish and canned fish
• Fishing contributes to 1.8% of GDP at
current market prices
• Around 266,293 active fishermen have
engaged in both marine and inland
fisheries

Harnessing of
Ocean Resources:
the Case of Sri
Lanka
1. Opportunities for Utilization
for Country’s Economic
Development
2. High Potentials
3. Due to the long lasted
Conflict- Couldn’t Explore
4. Now Favorable Environment
for Harnessing Ocean
Resources
5. Strategies, Long term vision
needed

Ocean Energy
1. Petroleum Exploration- Second
Bidding
2. Encouraging Signs; World’s leading
oil Companies have Shown Interest
3. Domestic Capacity Building,
Technology Transfer
4. Ocean Wind Energy
5. Ocean Wave Energy

Thank you