Can the ‘blue economy’ deliver on its promise? Investors are starting see the ocean as an asset worth protecting

The term “blue economy” has been circulated among environmental commentators for years—usually meaning whatever the speaker wants it to mean. For some, it’s about sustainable fisheries and marine protected areas. For others, it’s a broad term that can encompass offshore wind, deep-sea mining, and blue carbon credits. And to skeptics, it’s a convenient buzzword that remains vague when it comes to measurable actions.

Until recently, the concept didn’t have an operational definition or a credible funding stream.