Blue economy in Namibia refers to the use of the sea and its resources for sustainable economic development.
While a green economy is linked to effective use of natural resources, the definition of a blue economy relates to healthy marine resources. Namibia recognizes that oceans are critical to sustaining earth's life support systems and the billions of people who are dependent on the oceans for livelihoods, food security, and economic development.
For Namibia, a sustainable blue economy should provide not just economic, but also social benefits for present and future generations. A blue economy recognizes marine ecosystems as natural capital, and protects and maintains them accordingly. It also aspires for social and economic stability through the use of clean technology and renewable energy. The blue economy is characterized as inclusive, marked by stakeholder participation, well-informed, precautionary, and adaptive, accountable and transparent, holistic, cross-sectoral, long-term, and innovative and proactive. Embedded in systems thinking.
For instance, there is a marine project that is focusing on identifying Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas (EBSAs); Namibia also has large marine areas designated as protected, and an internationally applauded ecosystem management approach to its fisheries sector. Recently, public participation and the precautionary approach put on hold phosphate mining plans.
The blue economy approach to managing how Namibia utilises marine resources is an effective and innovative one that looks after resources for present and future generations.