Blue Growth - A Transitions Approach to Developing Sustainable Pathways

A new paper has been published in Journal of Ocean and Coastal Economics, authored by MSSRG members Christina Kelly, Wesley Flannery and Ben McAteer. The paper, titled 'Blue Growth: A Transitions Approach to Developing Sustainable Pathways', critically discusses how the intensification of Blue Growth could have adverse socio-ecological implications and must, therefore, be managed in terms of sustainability. However, managing Blue Growth in a sustainable manner is challenging due to the longstanding inefficiencies and inertia of existing marine governance regimes. Adopting a transitions approach has been advanced as a way of steering regime change so that it is not inhibited by these persistent problems. This paper reports on four case studies that adopt transitions thinking and use the multi-level perspective as a broad analytical framework through which to understand institutional dynamics, drivers and responses within core marine sectors. By adopting this approach and engaging key stakeholders, the paper argues that governance authorities can develop sustainable Blue Growth pathways that minimize the impact of continued growth on communities and the marine environment, maximizing the implementation of sustainable practices and addressing issues such as biodiversity loss and climate change.