The CEOE (Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations) has published a document with its strategic initiatives for Next Generation EU, and one of them is fully dedicated to the blue economy. Its objective is to advance towards the maximum sustainable and intelligent use of our seas and ocean as a critical economy with great potential for the transformation, recovery and resilience of Spain.

They foster the promotion of new economic models and the development of technologies for identifying resources, systems of use, infrastructures, means of transport, as well as specialized training of workers and a reinforced public-private collaboration that will provide a new paradigm in the economies and social improvement in the coastal areas, consolidating our country as one of the European leaders in the blue economy, with one of the greatest capacities for growth and generation of employment and inclusion in dependent and depopulated areas.

From the organization recognize the usefulness of the blue economy in areas such as construction and repair, maritime transport, the extraction of living marine resources (fisheries and aquaculture), port activities, maritime and coastal tourism, defense and maritime security, blue energy, desalination or biotechnology.

What improvements can the blue economy bring? The CEOE points out, mainly:

• Internationalization, training, R+D+i, environmental improvements in shipbuilding and repair.
• Measures to promote the competitiveness of merchant ships under the Spanish flag.
• Modernization, training, research and investment in environmental technologies for fishing.
• Updating, optimization, digitalization and decarbonization and security of ports.
• Digitalization and reinforcement of the tourist industry of coast, nautical sports and of recreation and cruises.
• Public-private collaboration in defense and maritime security.
• Development of projects and R+D+i in offshore wind and marine energy capture
• Optimization and R+D+i in desalination technologies.
• Biotechnology: drugs, vaccines, therapies, feeds, nutrients, dyes, enzymes, algae for energy production.

As for the agents involved, the following stand out:

• Construction, repair and maintenance: Shipyards and Auxiliary Industry.
• Tractor entities (public and private): Spanish Navy, Shipowners, Marine Energy, Recreational Boating, Shipping Companies and Utilities.
• Support services for maritime activities: Bunkering, Stevedoring, Ports, Sports marinas, Pilots, Port services.
• Professional, technical and scientific services companies: Banking, Brokers, Consulting, IDi, Engineering, Defense and Security, Insurance, Legal services, Maritime and coastal tourism, University, Academic centers.
• Business organizations.
• Public sector (Government of Spain, Autonomous Communities and Local Entities, as well as the intermediate bodies dependent on them).