Blue Prosperity Coalition: marine experts to come together to protect the world’s oceans and economic development

Abu Dhabi, UAE (ots/PRNewswire) – economic growth AND protection of the oceans go Hand – in-Hand on the Basis of the following measures:

* A global network of marine experts has established the Blue Prosperity Coalition, to support the sustainability of the world’s oceans

* Government partners, and ocean experts have the common goal of economic growth and protection of the seas in accordance

* Fully protected areas offer immense benefits for the Maritime economy and the Ecosystems – not only for the fish, but for all whose economic existence is the basis of the sea

* Over 70 countries have committed to protect parts of their Maritime areas, currently less than 5% of the oceans, however, are as fully protected No-take Area identified, what remains extremely far behind the propagated target of 30% by 2030

* More than 19 global sea organizations and experts collaborating in the launch of Blue Prosperity Coalition, a growing network of experts that can provide resources, tools and expertise to support governments in the proper implementation of marine management plans, all of which in the long term will benefit

Government officials, marine experts and NGOs together to announce the launch of the Blue Prosperity Coalition, a network of global partners, the life, the protection of the marine to bring the spaces up with the economic development and in this way, the sustainability of the seas of the world want to promote. Among the founding members of the coalition, the Waitt Institute, National Geographic, Pristine Seas, Oceans 5, and Dynamic Planet, in addition to partnerships with the government of the Azores, the governments of Barbuda, and Curaçao, and the government of the Kingdom of Tonga.

The maritime world economy is globally estimated to be 24 trillion U.S. dollars, but the sea resources are rapidly reduced, and human threats such as Overfishing, pollution and climate change exacerbate the situation. Scientific studies show that an effectively operated protection of at least 30% of the world’s oceans with this will not help, only to preserve the marine resources, but also to maximize the yields and sustainable economic growth. In 2016, the intergovernmental organization IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) called the global target by 2030 „30% of the Maritime area of life“ than to keep a highly protected area with no fishing activity“.

„The rescue of the oceans will be able neither to an Individual nor to a single organization, but if we work together, we can overcome the challenge,“ says philanthropist Ted Waitt, founder of the Waitt Institute.

The 5 basic principles of Blue Prosperity

1. Our oceans are in need of immediate protection.

2. This can serve both the ECONOMY and the ENVIRONMENT.

3. Necessary for the protection of at least 30% of the world’s oceans.

4. Marine protection is best achieved through WIDE-ranging, scientifically based plans in consultation with key stakeholders.

5. Collaboration with committed governments can the world’s oceans in a more SUSTAINABLE and PRODUCTIVE.

Blue Prosperity Coalition Partner, Dr. Enric Sala, National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence, explains „We do not need to choose between the economy and the environment. If we provide the right level of protection can we restore the marine habitats and the local Economies with their livelihoods.“

The depletion of marine resources is one of the greatest challenges of our Generation. More than 70 countries have committed to protect parts of their Maritime territory, but less than 5% of the ocean areas as No-take Areas designated. It is scientifically proven that can regenerate the nature, if we protect 30% of our oceans through Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Studies also show that the conservation of 30% of the world’s oceans serves as both the maintenance of economic interests, as well as the protection of Ecosystems.

The founding members of the Blue Prosperity Coalition want to implement through the provision of expert resources, in support of a comprehensive maritime spatial planning and capacity development of local authorities, their commitment to the protection of the oceans. The coalition will are the countries that are interested in the development of their Maritime economy („Blue Economy“), with financing options and world-class Know-how in the fields of planning, law, Advocacy, strategy, implementation, and scientific Expertise to the side.

„We involve Teams of local and international experts work with governments, and with the tools and resources they need to ensure that the world’s oceans for a healthy future,“ explains Dr. Kathryn lot rink, J. D., Executive Director of the Waitt Institute.

In February 2019, the Blue Prosperity Coalition, the Blue Azores joined the program, which was established through a partnership between the Waitt Institute and the Foundation Oceano Azul, in cooperation with the regional government of the Azores. The government of the Azores has undertaken in the framework of the Blue Azores to areas additional 150,000 square miles of their waters (15%) of the protected sea and to declare No-take Areas, and at the same time a holistic maritime planning, to the sea branches of the affine economy, how to improve fishing and sustainable tourism. The planning aims to preserve important feeding grounds for economically important fish stocks, migration routes for marine mammals and deep-sea ecosystems such as seamounts and hydrothermal vents.

„Our oceans are at a critical turning point. Us enough information to act now. We must achieve effective protection of the seas in the next decade, otherwise it is too late,“ says Dr. Emanuel Gonçalves, a member of the Board of management of the Oceano Azul Foundation.

The new new Blue Prosperity Coalition builds on the Waitt Institute developed concepts, the sustainability of the world’s oceans, through maritime spatial planning, and includes programs in the Caribbean and in the Pacific. Barbuda has shown in 2014, 33% of its waters protected from fishing excluded sea areas. Among the partners, including Tonga and the island, whose governments have each committed themselves to at least 30% of its marine areas under protection.

Already underway, the country is widely implemented maritime spatial planning of the Kingdom of Tonga, the values for the core of the Blue Prosperity Coalition. The Tonga-partnership shows how strong the commitment of the Community is, and how important it is for the achievement of these goals. The Kingdom of Tonga has integrated into its planning processes, focusing on the 700,000 square miles of ocean with more than 140 Islands, a robust consultation process in which all coastal communities are involved in the Kingdom. „Humans and oceans are interconnected. The certainty that the Communities in the planning and management of Maritime territories to be involved, helps to ensure a healthy future for the oceans,“ says Karen Stone, Executive Director of the Vava’u Environmental Protection Agency (VEPA), an implementing partner in Tonga.

Learn more at:

[1] BlueProsperity.org
#Blue prosperity#

Instagram: @Blue Prosperity

1. https://www.blueprosperity.org/

For more information about the Blue Prosperity Coalition, please contact: Cherie Prothro Shea: cherie@waittfoundation.org, Kathryn amount of rink: mengerink@waittinstitute.org

+1(619)871-2948