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It is estimated that marine and maritime activity sectors generate around €500 billion and employ about five and a half million people in the European Union. These sectors involve not only traditional activities such as shipping or coastal and marine tourism, but extend to other activities with a high potential for innovation and growth such as ocean renewable energy and blue biotechnology. Due to this innovative potential the industry could provide employment to seven million people by 2020 and contribute with €600 billion to EU GDP.

In view of maximising this potential, the European Commission has adopted a communication entitled Blue Growth opportunities for marine and maritime sustainable growth, which describes the measures to be implemented in order to stimulate growth in these innovative activities. This blue growth agenda constitutes one more element of the EU Integrated Maritime Policy contribution to the targets set by the Europe 2020 strategy.

Commission's communication lays the foundations for a process that will place blue growth in the centre of the debate for member states, regions, businesses and civil society in general. The document highlights the need to encourage innovation and marine research, supporting innovative SMEs and addressing skills needs in marine disciplines as well as promoting innovative products and solutions. More specifically, the Commission identifies five areas with a special potential for growth which include marine, coastal and cruise tourism, blue energy, marine mineral resources, aquaculture and blue biotechnology.

The communication on Blue Growth will be central in the upcoming ministerial conference on integrated maritime policy. Furthermore, this document will be followed by a set of initiatives that will address each strategic sectors for blue growth identified by the Commission.