The blue economy refers to the sustainable use of ocean and aquatic resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and job creation, while simultaneously preserving the health of marine and coastal ecosystems. It bridges traditional maritime activities with emerging environmental innovations. According to the World Bank, the blue economy is the “sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of ocean ecosystem.” The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) defines Blue Economy as an economic activity that directly or indirectly uses ocean or riverresources as an input, and that contributes or does not negativelyaffect the health and sustainability of ocean and river ecosystems.It emphasises conservation and sustainable management basedon the idea that healthy ocean ecosystems are more productiveand are fundamental to sustainable, ocean-based economies.
On June 23, 2026, The Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), officially launched an open-access, Caribbean Blue Economy (BE) Knowledge Hub that brings together decades of the Region’s expertise and insight on fisheries, aquaculture, and marine spatial planning.
The digital platform is a crucial outcome of the Global Environment Facility (GEF)-funded, BE-CLME+: Promoting National Blue Economy Priorities Through Marine Spatial Planning in the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem Plus project.The knowledge hub is a permanent, multilingual home for Blue Economy data, best practices, policy tools, and technical insight from across the participating countries – Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica, Panama, and Saint Lucia — built on CRFM’s expertise and the knowledge generated through the BE-CLME+ Project.
The Blue Economy–Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem Plus (BE-CLME+) Project is a four-year regional initiative implemented by the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism with financial support from the Global Environment Facility through a US$6.2 million grant. The project aims to advance the sustainable development of the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem by promoting marine spatial planning, expanding marine protected areas, strengthening ecosystem-based fisheries management, and developing sustainable seafood value chains. Its activities are organized under three core components: Marine Spatial Planning, Fisheries Value Chains, and Project Coordination and Knowledge Management, with the overall objective of improving marine governance, conserving marine biodiversity, and fostering sustainable blue economic growth across the Caribbean region.
Powered by insights produced through the BE-CLME+ Project and CRFM, the Hub organises technical reports, policy briefs, fact sheets, and multimedia resources across seven thematic areas for easy discovery. Users can search, filter by theme, and access an AI-powered assistant — “Ask BE-CLME” — available in both English and Spanish to help navigate the platform’s resources.
Dr. Marc Williams, Executive Director, CRFM, stated, “The BE-CLME+ Knowledge Management Hub represents the continued drive of the CRFM to make knowledge products more accessible to all stakeholders; connecting policymakers, practitioners, researchers, and communities to the evidence they need to act, adapt, and lead.”
Dr. Williams further elaborated: “Small-scale fishers, women who process and trade the catch, youth deciding whether this industry has a future worth joining, and Indigenous communities whose stewardship of marine ecosystems spans generations — all will find, in this platform, a resource calibrated to their realities. That means accessible formats, multilingual content, and practical tool that translate regional expertise into actionable guidance for every practitioner in the value chain, including fisherfolk, academics, and policymakers alike.”Dr. Renata Clarke, FAO Sub-Regional Coordinator for the Caribbean, said, “The importance of this platform cannot be overstated. It would help to unlock grey literature to better support decision-making by practitioners that is centered on benefits to communities. At present, piles of information and knowledge produced over decades sit unused, on desks and in drawers of national officers.”
Erick Castro, Principal Executive, CAF, said, “Advancing a sustainable blue economy requires long-term investment in knowledge, governance, and human capital. Through BE-CLME+, we are helping to build the foundations that enable countries to make informed decisions, strengthen institutions, and unlock opportunities for inclusive and resilient growth. This platform is a tangible example of that commitment, transforming regional knowledge into a shared asset that will continue to generate blue value over time.”
