The Blue Economy and Its Discontents

The concept of the ‘blue economy’ has gained prominence as a strategy for sustainable economic development in marine and coastal areas.This paper adopts a critical marine social sciences perspective to scrutinize the socio-economic and environmental implications of blue economy initiatives. While the blue economy promises economic benefits through activities such as aquaculture, renewable energy, and marine biotechnology, it also risks perpetuating significant social and environmental injustices. By deconstructing the theoretical foundations of the blue economy, highlighting its roots in neoliberal economic policies that prioritize economic expansion over social equity and environmental sustainability, the paper critically examines case studies where blue economy initiatives have led to economic gains but at the cost of environmental degradation and social displacement, such as the expansion of industrial aquaculture in Southeast Asia and offshore wind farms in Europe. The environmental critique focuses on the ecological consequences of intensified marine exploitation, including habitat destruction, pollution, and biodiversity loss. These impacts often exacerbate existing environmental vulnerabilities and undermine the resilience of marine ecosystems. The paper also highlights the social dimensions of the blue economy, particularly the marginalization and disenfranchisement of small-scale fishers and coastal communities. These groups frequently bear the brunt of large-scale industrial projects, facing loss of livelihoods, cultural erosion, and social conflicts. Technological advancements, while often touted as solutions, are critically assessed for their role in reinforcing existing power imbalances and creating new forms of exclusion. Innovations such as precision aquaculture and marine spatial planning tools, while potentially beneficial, can also entrench inequities and prioritize corporate interests over community needs. From this premise, the paper reflects on the increasing discussions on the concept of ‘blue degrowth’ as a way of repoliticizing the ocean and bringing politics back into the blue economy and how it can contribute to sociological understanding of our relationship with the oceans.