Realising the potential of the Outermost Regions for sustainable blue growth

This study aims at contributing to the implementation of the Integrated Maritime Policy in the nine Outermost Regions (ORs) of the European Union (Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Réunion, Mayotte, Saint-Martin, Madeira, the Azores and Canary Islands) and their related sea basins (Caribbean-Amazonia, south-west Indian Ocean and Macaronesia). Its main purpose is to identify opportunities for sustainable growth in the blue economy (Blue Growth) in each of the basins, by covering four main areas:

• the state of play, which describes the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the blue economy of the ORs and identifies relevant flagship projects;
• the identification of potential new maritime activities expected to contribute to Blue Growth in each of the ORs;
• a gap analysis of required skills, infrastructure, research and data, and recommendations for appropriate actions (at public and private levels) expected to help fill these gaps; and
• the provision of up-to-date insights and evidence on the new growth potential that should help understand the economic and social development process within the maritime sector, including analysis of maritime activity trends, identification of strategies to improve the competitiveness of maritime activities, and the fostering of the role of ORs within the overall EU cooperation framework in the maritime sector.