Middle Eastern countries can overcome pressing challenges by developing a blue economy
“In addition, with the same use of resources,” says Basem, “we also have fruits and vegetables. This is what the future looks like.”
Tere are other countries in the region are known for their best practices in the Blue
-
which is currently estimated by experts to be practiced in 10
country, on a total area of between 50,000 to 72,000 hectares.
aquaculture for many decades and
aquaculture were 3,608 and 1,225 tonnes, respectively.
developing innovative technologies and breeding methods which are revolutionising their industry. The excellence of Israeli technology is not used alone in breeding in the country but is also appreciated and exported all over the world.
Coastal and marine tourism
past 20 years the Gross Domestic
the tourism sector has increased by 60 percent in Mediterranean countries. The Mediterranean region is the world’s leading tourism destination. International tourist arrivals have grown from 58 million in 1970 to nearly 324 million in 2015. It is also among the most frequented areas by cruise ships in the world, with some 27 million passengers visiting the area by 2013. Therefore tourism has been a positive economic asset for the region.
But as surprising as it may be, it is not so much industrial pollution that represents the greatest damage to the marine environment, but tourism that has a huge negative impact on the region.
Tourism is in fact one of the main threats to ecosystems in the
industries and cruises operating, for example, in the Red Sea are subject to harsh regulations but the main threat to the environment is posed by waste disposal, especially of plastic, and by the enormous water footprint that each tourist leaves behind.
many challenges to face in terms of scarcity of natural resources and food security. For this reason the economy based on maritime sectors in the Mediterranean and
a crucial potential for the economic development.
“We do not have any ‘ miraculous’ innovation. We simply have some technologies that, if associated to traditional methods, can stimulate a process of sustainable development, which is a key factor for those countries
natural resources,” says Crespi.
“Moreover,” he adds, “promoting a policy of implemen-
reduce the rural exodus of these populations from the countryside to the cities, or even the exodus across the Mediterra-
the much desired job and economic prosperity.”
Farmed Tilapia on sale in a Cairo supermarket. Local farmers from Egypt, Algeria and Oman participated in farmer-to-farmer study tours, visited 15 integrated agri-aquaculture farms, and learnt new skills and techniques from each other.