Blue BioTrade: Harnessing Marine Trade to Support Ecological Sustainability and Economic Equity

The following report describes how the application of the Blue BioTrade concept can promote sustainable and equitable economic sectors and value chains that rely on marine and coastal resources. A proposal for implementing a Blue BioTrade approach is described in Annex I. Blue BioTrade principles and criteria can be applied without the force of law through voluntary verification and certification systems that enable firms to obtain a price premium for embracing equity and sustainability. Once an international consensus on the principles and criteria for Blue BioTrade has been established, and certification systems are in place (e.g. under the existing framework of the Union for Ethical BioTrade), firms will be able to publicly demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and equity. This represents the first exchange in an ongoing dialogue on Blue BioTrade between UNCTAD, CAF –development bank of Latin America-, and their regional and national partners throughout the world. Expanding Blue BioTrade will require clear guidelines expressly tailored to the marine and coastal environment, as both the governance arrangements and ecological characteristics of oceans very different from land-based economic sectors. Four industries should be regarded as priorities for Blue BioTrade: (i) fisheries and aquaculture; (ii) marine-based pharmaceuticals and cosmetics; (iii) marine and coastal tourism, and (iv) carbon capture and sequestration. Leveraging Blue BioTrade principles can enhance both the economic value of natural capital, which supports food production, tourism, and a range of other economic activities, as well as the noneconomic benefits of ecosystem services, including water-quality maintenance, carbon sequestration, shoreline stabilization and disaster mitigation, scenic beauty, and the cultural worth of traditional livelihoods. Blue BioTrade focuses on the interconnected values and benefits of ecologically healthy, well-managed marine and coastal habitats to achieve sustainability and enhance economic efficiency.