PROBLUE: Healthy Ocean, Healthy Economies, Healthy Communities

PILLAR 1: Fisheries and Aquaculture

Improving fisheries by tackling the underlying causes of overfishing and strengthening aquaculture sustainability

The overall objective of Pillar 1 is to improve fisheries governance. Activities are divided into two broad categories:

Reducing overexploitation of capture fisheries, including by improving transparency, governance, and reducing the impact of harmful fisheries subsidies;
Improving aquaculture, including by increasing biosecurity to prevent disease, and supporting new development models in aquaculture

PILLAR 2: Marine Pollution

Addressing threats posed to ocean health from marine pollution, including litter and plastics, from marine or land-based sources

The overall objective of Pillar 2 is the prevention of marine pollution and litter. This requires new policies, changes from consumers and industries, investments, innovations, and private sector interventions. Pillar 2 is prioritizing activities that prevent marine plastics, including:

Improving solid waste management to stop leakages;
Transitioning to a more circular economy, in which products are designed for reuse and recycling, making waste more valuable;
Reducing the upstream production and use of plastics

PILLAR 3: Oceanic Sectors

Enhancing sustainability of key oceanic sectors such as tourism, maritime transport and offshore renewable energy

The overall objective of Pillar 3 is the “blueing” of oceanic sectors, to be achieved by supporting more sustainable development of both:

Traditional maritime activities: e.g. shipping and ports, and tourism
More innovative uses: e.g. offshore wind and desalination

PILLAR 4: Seascape Management

Building government capacity to manage marine resources, including nature-based solutions, and to mobilize private sector finance:

The overall objective of Pillar 4 is to strengthen integrated and sustainable management of coastal and marine areas. This involves:

Strengthening government capacity to value and conserve blue natural capital;
Exploring innovative financing to support the Blue Economy;
Developing Blue Economy Development Framework (BEDF) analytical tools including a blue carbon approach;
Promoting the use of nature-based solutions such as mangroves to boost costal resilience