Quick Dips
Curated topical articles on the Blue Economy

Reusable containers aren’t always better for the environment than disposable ones - new research

Schmid, A.G., et al., The Conversation Plastics & Pollution

Our research set out to understand how many times you have to reuse a container for it to be the more eco-friendly choice, in the context of the takeaway food industry.

Read more → (5 minute read)


Sparking interest – and investment – in sub-Saharan African aquaculture

Rob Fletcher, The Fish Site Fisheries & Aquaculture

On the day of the publication of Aqua-Spark’s new report on tilapia farming in sub-Saharan Africa, Willem van Pijl and Amy Novogratz reflect on what they’ve learned and what they’re hoping to achieve through the process, as they approach the launch of a $50 million African aquaculture fund.

Read more → (9 minute read)


Investing in nature gives industry and business a competitive advantage. Here's why

André Hoffmann & Katell Le Goulven, World Economic Forum

Forward-thinking business leaders understand that nature and economics are inextricably linked.

Read more → (5 minute read)


Sustainable Ocean Investing Gets Real: Opportunities Across All Asset Classes

Ted Janulis, Investable Oceans

ESG and sustainable investing have taken center stage in asset management. Climate and now oceans are leaders in this elevation with a proliferation of products, firms, and frameworks increasingly on investors’ radar screens.

Read more → (7 minute read)


3 steps towards making aviation and marine fuel cleaner

Anjan Ray, World Economic Forum Energy Solutions Shipping & Ports

On the current trajectory, sustainable fuels will only supply a small percentage of aviation and shipping needs. Favourable government policies are needed to increase production and adoption of sustainable fuels in both sectors.

Read more → (5 minute read)


The 10 most innovative travel companies of 2021

Fast Company Tourism

From Airbnb and Hipcamp to Delta Airlines and Ennismore hotels, these 10 travel companies found reasons to be optimistic in an unprecedented year for tourism and hospitality.

Read more → (8 minute read)


Puerto Lopez’s big fishing problem

World Ocean Initiative, The Economist Group Fisheries & Aquaculture

Artisanal fishermen in Ecuador talk about the sustainability, illegal fishing and regulatory challenges impacting their livelihoods.

Read more → (4 minute read)


Seaweed farms significantly reduce nitrogen, pollution - TAU study

The Jerusalem Post Fisheries & Aquaculture

A new study from TAU and UC Berkeley suggests seaweed farms provide significant benefits to the environment.

Read more → (2 minute read)


Floating wind turbines could open up vast ocean tracts for renewable power

Paola Rosa-Aquino, The Guardian Energy Solutions

Technology could help power a clean energy transition if it can overcome hurdles of cost, design and opposition from fishing.

Read more → (6 minute read)


World's first crewless, zero emissions cargo ship will set sail in Norway

Rochelle Beighton, CNN Shipping & Ports

A Norwegian company has created what it calls the world's first zero-emission, autonomous cargo ship.

Read more → (4 minute read)


If We Want to Fix the Plastic Waste Crisis, We Need to Fix Our Data

World Wildlife Fund Plastics & Pollution

A global reporting mechanism to ensure accurate and consistent waste management monitoring is essential to address the disparities in our understanding of plastic mismanagement and facilitate effective mitigation.

Read more → (4 minute read)


How a 'trash-to-treasure' mentality can change plastic waste

Emma Samson, World Economic Forum Plastics & Pollution

To build a trash-to-treasure or waste-to-product mindset, the financial and sustainability benefits must be better understood by plastic producers.

Read more → (5 minute read)


Energy at sea: the future of blue power

World Ocean Initiative, The Economist Group Energy Solutions

Power generated at sea has enormous potential to help decarbonise the world’s energy systems, but the sector needs to scale up fast.

Read more → (5 minute read)


Maersk accelerates fleet decarbonisation with new vessel order

Stine Jacobsen, Reuters Shipping & Ports

A.P. Moller-Maersk (MAERSKb.CO) said on Tuesday it had ordered eight vessels which are able to run on carbon-neutral methanol to accelerate the decarbonisation of its fleet and meet increased customer demand for greener transportation.

Read more → (2 minute read)


Sea Scallops Farmed in Maine Aren’t Just Sustainable. They’re Helping Their Habitat.

Melissa Clark, The New York Times Fisheries & Aquaculture

There are only a handful of these farms in the United States, most run by fishing families in Maine. But their number is growing.

Read more → (9 minute read)


WHOI Advancing a Seaweed Solution to Develop New Kelp Strains

ECO Magazine Fisheries & Aquaculture

As the state of the Earth’s climate remains at the forefront of the minds of policymakers, scientists, and economists, seaweed farming is being viewed as a sustainable and efficient way to boost economies, provide nutritious food and diversify ocean life.

Read more → (3 minute read)


Coral, meet coral: how selective breeding may help the world’s reefs survive ocean heating

Emily Howells & David Abrego, The Conversation Fisheries & Aquaculture

A single generation of selective breeding can make corals better able to withstand extreme temperatures, according to our new research.

Read more → (4 minute read)


Can We Fix Recycling? Some Companies Are Trying

Tiffany Duong, EcoWatch Plastics & Pollution

The recycling industry in America is broken, but some companies are trying to make it better.

Read more → (6 minute read)


What is integrated aquaculture and how can it help feed the world?

Rumaitha Al Busaidi, World Economic Forum Fisheries & Aquaculture

Integrated aquaculture means linking two or more farming activities, where at least one is a fish-farming activity. It offers a sustainable, resilient solution to increase food security.

Read more → (4 minute read)


Twinning aquaculture with marine conservation

Rob Fletcher, The Fish Site Fisheries & Aquaculture

Proof that aquaculture can have positive impacts within Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) is offered by a collection of case studies by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Read more → (4 minute read)