Portugal’s Blue Economy

Blue Innovation. The sea has always been an important part of the Portuguese identity—both historically as well as geographically—and your government aims to double the ‘blue economy’ share of Portugal’s economy to reach 5% of GDP. Along what major lines will the country’s ‘blue economy’ have to be developed in order to realize such growth?

Ana Paula Vitorino. In what concerns the blue economy, Portugal is focusing its efforts in the compromise between generating a new cycle of economic development and creating more environmental sustainability. To make these objectives operational, we have two policy lines: The first is to ensure de competitiveness of our ports and the promotion of a global network of Port Tech Clusters and Green Shipping; the second is the promotion of new blue economy activities, like ocean renewable energies and blue biotechnology. This policy line focuses on ports, as privileged access point to the sea and to installation of maritime industries. The port system must be at the forefront of the realization of the blue circular economy. And it must do so not only by increasing its energy and environmental efficiency, but also by acting as a change agent, promoting the emergence of innovative companies that make the blue circular economy happen. This will be achievable on a global scale through the creation of a global network of Port Tech Clusters, accelerating platforms for sustainable blue business technology and innovation. The promotion of Green Shipping accelerates the introduction of technologies and solutions that reduce and eliminate emissions of particulate matter and greenhouse gases or allow the treatment of ballast water. The International Maritime Organization has already established that the limitation of 0.5% of sulphur emissions on the global sea routes will come into effect from 2020, as well as a reduction of 30% in CO2 emissions in 2030. The second policy line, promotion of new ocean economic activities, requires investment in research, science and innovation, and also a support for the transition between the phase of knowledge consolidation and the phase of commercialization and industrialization. These are activities without track record in our economies and still without consolidated technology, affordable and easy to use.