What is the blue economy?
You may have heard of the “ocean economy” – this term has often been used to characterize a range of activities related to the exploitation of ocean resources, like food and energy, and the use of the oceans for transport and commercial purposes. The “blue economy” on the other hand is a new and emerging concept which takes the traditional ocean economy one step further by focusing on sustainability. There are a few different definitions of the blue economy, but according to the World Bank the blue economy is:
“the sustainable use of resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs, while also preserving the health of our ocean ecosystem”.
How do ports contribute to the blue economy?
Ports, being the connection between the land and sea, play a string role in connecting people and economies to the ocean. There are numerous ways in which ports can play a role in the blue economy:
1. By supporting sustainable fisheries and aquaculture
Commercial fishing and aquaculture (which refers to the rearing of aquatic animals or cultivation of aquatic plants) provide food for billions of people around the globe. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, in 2020 fisheries and aquaculture production reached an all-time record of 214 million tonnes, worth about 424 billion US dollars.
Sustainable fishing and aquaculture refer to practices which maintain populations and ecosystems while meeting food needs and supporting economic viability i.e. they balance the need for food with the health of marine and freshwater environments, ensuring that future generations can continue to benefit from these resources.
Ports can play a vital role in promoting and supporting sustainable fishing and aquaculture practices, for example by providing infrastructure for efficient and environmentally friendly operations; and by working closely and assisting the relevant authorities in monitoring illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
How ports in Southern Africa are doing their part to support sustainable fishing and aquaculture |
· Port of Saldanha, South Africa currently accommodates 15 aquaculture lessees occupying approximately 301 hectares of water space, a number of whom have Operation Phakisa registered projects. Operation Phakisa is a South African government initiative aimed at addressing issues such as poverty, unemployment and inequality. |
· With support from the “Port State Measures to Stop Illegal Fishing” initiative, Mozambique is actively using its ports to: |
o Refuse access to known or suspected IUU fishing vessels. o Identify high-risk vessels for inspection or investigation. o Work across agencies to identify, sanction and stop illegal operators o Establish systems and procedures that reduce the risk of corruption. o Increase compliance in the industrial sector to support a sustainable artisanal sector. o Improve maritime security. |
According to the UN, renewable energy is “energy derived from natural sources that are replenished at a higher rate than they are consumed”. Given the global climate crisis; transitioning to renewable energy sources and away from fossil fuels is of vital importance.
Historically ports have played a key role in the transport and storage of fossil fuels.
However since the Paris Agreement (an international treaty on climate change) came into force in 2016, the focus of ports has shifted more and more towards both acting as hubs for renewable energy projects (like offshore wind farms); and reducing their own carbon footprint by installing renewable energy sources within the port or becoming green ports. (Read more about green ports and buildings here)
Ports as hubs for renewable energy projects |
o The Port of Aberdeen (UK) is a leading location for supporting offshore wind developments in Scotland and its £400 million investment in Aberdeen South Harbour will transform the region’s capabilities to support offshore wind |
o Port Esbjerg in Denmark is the leading port for offshore wind power in Europe, playing a role in both the manufacturing of components and pre-assembly/installation. |
o In South Africa, PetroSA has recently launched a call to undertake a technical and economic study for the development of offshore wind energy farms in the southern and western coastal regions |
How ports both in South Africa and around the world are working towards reducing their carbon footprint |
o In line with South Africa’s commitment to find ways to transition to a net-zero emission economy by 2050, Transnet National Ports Authority has committed to decarbonise it’s port operations and has recently appointed a consortium to construct and operate its first 20 MW solar photovoltaics (PV) plant at the Port of Richards Bay. This forms part of TNPA’s Renewable Energy Purchase Program, which includes plans to install an estimated 100 MW of renewable energy across South Africa’s eight commercial seaports. |
o Another port leading the way in South Africa is the Port of Ngqura. The Port of Ngqura is a green port, and its state of the art port administration building is on track for a four-star green rating from the Green Building Council of South Africa. The design of this building includes concepts such as rainwater harvesting, solar panels and light motion sensors. |
o In the Netherlands, the Port of Rotterdam is an example of a port that has implemented initiatives such as using energy-saving lighting, an energy management system, and modern waste treatment. These initiatives have helped the port reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 14 per cent since 2016. |
o At the Port of Southampton in the UK more than 2,000 roof-mounted solar panels were installed at Ocean Terminal, the port’s largest cruise terminal. With its new carbon neutral status, the building is now generating more electricity than it is consuming. |
o As part of the Blue Growth Strategy at the Port of Vito, the port has initiated a project aimed at improving the energy efficiency of the different port facilities, as well as installing renewable energy generation systems (currently photovoltaic), in order to achieve 20% electrical self-consumption |
o At the ZAL Port (the intermodal logistics platform of the Port of Barcelona) there are several buildings which are fully sustainable and LEED certified. LEED-certified buildings are designed and constructed with a focus on energy savings, water efficiency, reduced carbon emissions and improved indoor air quality. Click here to read more about green buildings at ZAL port. |
3. By engaging in blue economy innovation & research
Ports are in a unique position to act as hubs for blue economy innovation and new technologies. A prime example of this is the Port of San Diego Blue Economy Incubator Program. This program provides funding, key assets and support services focused on pilot project facilitation. To date San Diego port has launched 8 pilot projects focused on sustainable aquaculture, port related technology and eco-engineering; and has contributed 1.7 million US dollars in funding for these projects. This port takes an active role in bringing together role players from government, business, conservation authorities, and research institutions to pursue innovative solutions to balancing the need for economic growth with the protection of the natural environment.
Taking a look at Europe - The Port of Lisbon recently launched its Blue Economy Innovation Program, which is centred around digitization, decarbonization, intermodality, and circularity within the maritime economy, bringing together stakeholders in entrepreneurship, science, technology, and business ecosystems. Other European initiatives include the Rotterdam based PortXL marine accelerator program (established in 2015), which aims to reshape the maritime sector by providing a platform for new ideas and technologies to revolutionize the way ports operate; as well as Bluetech Port – an innovation hub spearheaded by the Port of Barcelona, with a vision to be internationally recognised leaders in technological solutions for a sustainable marine economy.
In South Africa there are a number of initiatives and research programs focused around the blue economy sector and although these have not generally been initiated by the ports themselves, SAs ports are certainly encompassed within these programs. For example in 2017 the Nelson Mandela University established the country’s first dedicated Ocean Sciences campus in Port Elizabeth, with the aim to be a hub for pioneering post-graduate research, teaching and innovation. The campus hosts several research entities and has partnerships with numerous other institutions and stakeholders, including the South African International Maritime Institute as well as Transnet National Ports Authority.
4. By supporting marine conservation efforts
Marine conservation is at the very core of the blue economy, and ports can play an instrumental role in supporting conservation efforts both through policy making and by actively participating in research initiatives and marine conservation projects.
For example at the Port of Durban in 2019 a project was launched to trial plastic stoppage techniques in the port. This project which was funded by the IUCN’s Marine Plastics and Coastal Communities (MARPLASTICCS) initiative and led by WILDOCEANS aims to explore alternative ways to stop plastic from making its way into the marine environment while creating youth employment opportunities.
In Vancouver (Canada), the Habitat Enhancement Program initiated by Vancouver Fraser Port Authority has created, enhanced or restored approximately 15 hectares of functioning fish and wildlife habitat. The program administers a habitat bank that is formalized through a 15-year agreement with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, which allows the port to directly offset the effects of port development on fish and fish habitat.
In terms of policy making, ports can promote and support environmentally friendly shipping through “green shipping incentives”. For example, within the European Union, various ports have joined the Green Award scheme and become incentive providers, offering incentives to Green Award certified ships, such as discounts on port dues and maritime-related services and products. Similarly numerous ports around the world (including ports in Europe, Asia, South America, and North America) offer incentives using the Environmental Ship Index, a points based system which identifies seagoing ships that perform better in reducing air emissions than required by the current emission standards of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
5. By providing employment opportunities
As per the World Bank definition, a key element of the blue economy is “the sustainable use of resources for improved livelihoods and jobs”. Ports encompass a high concentration of companies and thus provide numerous opportunities for employment. In fact according to the International Transport Forum about 30 million people globally are employed in the port sector directly, with an additional 90 million jobs created in related industries.
In summary, ports play a key role in the blue economy by supporting a wide range of activities which contribute to economic growth while ensuring the conservation of marine environments.
Sources:
Estimating the impact of container port throughput on employment: an analysis for African countries with seaports | Journal of Shipping and Trade | Full Text (springeropen.com)
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