Quick Dips
Curated topical articles on the Blue Economy

UN Hopes to Reduce Ocean Plastic Waste Within Five Years

• Tiffany Duong, EcoWatch • Plastics & Pollution

This month, a new era began in the fight against plastic pollution.

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11 innovations protecting life below water – and above it

• Nathalie Chalmers, World Economic Forum • Energy Solutions • Fisheries & Aquaculture • Plastics & Pollution

Solutions tackle a range of ocean challenges including coral reef restoration, scaling restorative aquaculture, unearthing technologies for marine protection and helping invest in nature-based solutions.

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Presentation of the results: “Economic Valuation of the Ecosystem Services of the Mesoamerican Reef System”

• The Ocean Foundation • Tourism

On January 19, 2021, The Ocean Foundation in partnership with Metroeconomica and World Resources Institute of Mexico (WRI) hosted a workshop to present the results of their study “Economic Valuation of the Ecosystem Services of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System”.

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Biofloc Technology- The new blue revolution in aquaculture

• News Desk, Global Village Space • Fisheries & Aquaculture

Considered as the new blue revolution in aquaculture, Biofloc technology is currently the most profitable technique being used by the fish farmers.

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NOAA finalizes strategy to enhance growth of American Blue Economy

• NOAA

NOAA today released its Blue Economy Strategic Plan for 2021-2025, laying out a roadmap for new ways to advance America’s Blue Economy and enhance a global ocean economyoffsite link expected to double in value to $3 trillion over the next decade.

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The Biggest Thing Missing From Joe Biden's Climate Plan: Plastic

• Dharna Noor, Gizmodo • Plastics & Pollution

The industry is already banking on plastic to save itself amid decreasing fuel demand and an increase in sustainable energy policies around the world.

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Mangrove aquaculture to be supported by state-of-the-art environmental monitoring

• Rob Fletcher, The Fish Site • Fisheries & Aquaculture

A new environmental monitoring initiative that aims to support shrimp and crab aquaculture in mangrove forests has officially been launched in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta province.

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4 Ocean-based Solutions to Advance Climate Action Through NDCs

• Eliza Northrop and Mario Finch, World Resources Institute • Energy Solutions • Fisheries & Aquaculture • Plastics & Pollution • Shipping & Ports • Tourism

Here are four areas that offer opportunities for ocean-based climate action in NDCs.

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Sustainable tourism key to Cumbria’s new carbon neutral plan

• Lorna Parkes, The Guardian • Energy Solutions • Tourism

Ambition to become the UK’s first carbon-neutral county, by 2037, looks to reduce the impact of visitors, especially in the Lakes.

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Setting The Pace In Regenerative Tourism

• Jeremy Swinfen-Green, Business Reporter • Tourism

Tourism is an important part of the world’s economy and supports more than 300 million jobs, but it is often blamed for harming the environment and impacting local communities. It doesn’t have to be like that.

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How to solve the investment puzzle of clean energy transitions in the developing world

• Fatih Birol and Roberto Bocca, World Economic Forum • Energy Solutions

To meet accelerated emissions reduction goals, the share of clean energy in total energy investment needs to rise to two-thirds by 2030.

Efforts needed in 3 areas: managing legacy infrastructure transitions; better regulatory frameworks; new approaches to financing.

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Eliminating microplastics in wastewater directly at the source

• Audrey-Maude Vézina, INRS • Plastics & Pollution

Professor Patrick Drogui’s research team has developed a process for the electrolytic treatment of wastewater that degrades microplastics at the source. 

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Draft UN biodiversity plan risks another lost decade for nature

• World Wildlife Fund

WWF paper, published today, shows that the draft plan can be strengthened to address our global nature crisis. Governments must urgently raise their level of ambition in their deliberation of the Global Biodiversity Framework while prioritizing key issues such as finance.

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Not RAS, not net pens: Salmon farm concepts redefine barriers

• Lauren Kramer, Global Aquaculture Alliance • Fisheries & Aquaculture

FiiZK, Kvarøy Arctic innovate with land-like cages at sea, sea-like cages on land.

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Plastic Pollution: We Need To Act Now

• The ASEAN Post Team • Plastics & Pollution

The problem has now been further exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic as “a new wave of plastic pollution” is littering beaches and public spaces in the form of disposable masks and gloves, said Jack Middleton from Surfers Against Sewage, a movement tackling plastic pollution.

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Why Isn’t Kelp Catching On?

• Hannah Selinger, The New York Times • Fisheries & Aquaculture

It’s a superfood and good for the environment. So, what’s the problem?

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NOAA to issue analysis of COVID-19's early impact on seafood industry: January 15

• NOAA • Fisheries & Aquaculture

On Friday, January 15, NOAA Fisheries will hold a media teleconference to discuss findings from a new report detailing the COVID-19 pandemic's early economic impact on the U.S. fishing and seafood sector.

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As the oceans become more acidic, threat to sealife and industry grows, new study finds

• Gal Tziperman Lotan, Boston Globe • Fisheries & Aquaculture

The ocean’s growing acidity, which goes hand in hand with climate change and other human-driven factors, could have a devastating effect on the state’s coastal waters and the shellfish industries that rely on their ecosystems, according to a new report.

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This Seagrass Traps Marine Plastic

• Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine • Fisheries & Aquaculture • Plastics & Pollution

Researchers find the Mediterranean species of seagrass collects plastics in fibrous balls that form from its fallen leaves.

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What does the Biden presidency hold for ocean sustainability?

• World Ocean Initiative, The Economist Group • Energy Solutions • Fisheries & Aquaculture • Plastics & Pollution

A major drive to promote offshore renewable energy, sustainable aquaculture and coastal restoration while redoubling international commitments is likely.

Read more → (6 minute read)