Opened yesterday at the Presidency, the 9th Blue Economy Forum continues today. This annual event brings together public and private stakeholders to debate and make recommendations. Suggestions for developing the blue economy by combining ecology, culture, and the preservation of natural resources, as well as examples of projects that could bring about significant change.
« The oceans are not only a source of jobs and food, but they also support economic growth, regulate the climate, and contribute to the well-being of coastal communities. » This is the definition of the blue economy concept by the World Bank, which adds that « a large number of people around the world, particularly the most disadvantaged, depend on the health of the oceans for their work and sustenance. »
The blue economy is particularly relevant to French Polynesia, which must « exploit, manage, and sustainably protect this natural resource » that is the ocean.
During the 9th Blue Economy Forum, which began yesterday in Papeete, participants outlined some examples of projects that fit within this framework.
In Hao, the idea of building a dry dock has been in the mind of the atoll’s mayor, Yseult Butcher, for some time. After the failed aquaculture project by Chinese investors, the mayor hopes that this dry dock project will come to fruition with the help of a local investor who is very familiar with the sector. The boats sailing in the eastern Tuamotus would no longer need to return to Tahiti for repairs or maintenance, for example.
Another example that fits within the framework of the blue economy is better access to digital connectivity for fishermen, which is necessary to « improve the fishing performance of boats, » says Stéphane Perez, CEO of the South Pacific Shipyard and President of the French Polynesia maritime cluster. « Because today, we no longer fish by looking at the stars or the direction of the wind, we fish with data such as altimetry or sea surface temperature. »
The results of the discussions are expected this afternoon. The recommendations made during this forum will be presented at the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference, which will take place in Nice in June 2025.
According to the OECD, the oceans contribute an added value of 1.5 trillion dollars annually to the global economy.
Source: francetvinfo
