To ensure that economic activities from marine regions do not negatively impact ecosystems and livelihoods, the Blue Economy concept seeks to manage a sustainable transformation of associated economic sectors to maintain and increase their value over time, while supporting further job creation.

Since 2014, the EU-funded SwitchMed programme has in eight countries of the Mediterranean demonstrated the potential of Circular Economy practices as an effective approach to support resource efficiency, innovative business models and in reducing the environmental footprint from various economic activities.

With the support from the European Commission Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs (DG Mare), the second phase of SwitchMed will extend Circular Economy principles to businesses under a Blue Economy component.  This component will demonstrate and promote principles of sustainable consumption and production in key economic sectors in line with the ‘Blue Growth’ strategy of the European Union and support the adoption of best Blue Economy business practices in the Mediterranean region.

The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) report on Blue Economy in the Mediterranean, states that; “fisheries and aquaculture industry in the Mediterranean Sea is the third most important Blue Economy sector in socio-economic terms after tourism and maritime transport. “

Growing global demand in seafood and fish products increases the pressure on the marine ecosystem and both the seafood and fish processing sectors contribute significantly to marine pollution. The seafood/fish processing and aquaculture sectors need more efficient practices that can support an economically viable and ecologically stable industry.

UNIDO will lead pilot activities in Tunisia and Morocco to demonstrate how to improve the seafood and fish processing value chain’s circularity and develop the aquaculture sector to adopt practices that can ensure a sustainable supply of seafood and fish from the Mediterranean. Pilot projects from both sectors will illustrate how Circular Economy practices can contribute to a resilient Blue Economy and eventually share the experiences with other countries in the Mediterranean.

Objectives of the UNIDO Blue Economy projects:

– Demonstrate the business case for resource efficiency in the fish/seafood processing industry using the UNIDO TEST methodology;

– Promote better valorization of fish and seafood value chain into by-products, including the use of innovative technologies;

– Share best practices and solutions, promoting business partnerships and investments to improve the environmental and economic performance of the aquaculture industry;

– Explore the potential for establishing circular business models to up-cycle fishing equipment (both for fishing and aquaculture) to reduce marine plastic pollution.