HORIZON 2020 - Sharing maritime space to unlock growth in the blue economy

From mussel farming to wind farms, the EU-funded MARIBE project showed how various marine projects could cut costs and benefit from each other by linking up. Optimising the use of our oceans and seas would also stimulate growth in the blue economy.

Related topics

Energy Environment & climate action Aquatic Resources Food security Belgium Ireland Italy Malta Netherlands Spain United Kingdom

date: 15/02/2017

Project: Marine Investment for the Blue Economy

acronym: MARIBE

See also: Project details

Covering 71 % of the Earth’s surface, our oceans and seas are home to considerable resources that are of interest to a number of sectors. Renewable energy production, aquaculture and marine biotechnology are just some of the areas that make use of these resources, and which could drive substantial growth in the offshore, or the ‘blue’, economy.

As maritime activity grows, ocean and sea space is at a premium. The EU-funded MARIBE project explored innovative ways to boost the offshore economy in the Atlantic, Baltic, North Sea and Caribbean basins. It identified sectors where shared activities could offer economic and environmental benefits, and proposed match-ups for projects further offshore.