# The Reality and Importance of moving towards Blue Economy: The Experiences of Some Arab Countries

Chafia Kettaf

► To cite this version:

Chafia Kettaf. The Reality and Importance of moving towards Blue Economy: The Experiences of Some Arab Countries. International Journal of Economic Performance - , 2023
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Submitted on 19 Aug 2023

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# The Reality and Importance of moving towards Blue Economy:

## The Experiences of Some Arab Countries

Kettaf chafia

chafia.kettaf@univ-setif.dz

University of Setif 1 (Algeria)

Submitted:07/12/2022

Accepted:03/03/2023

Published:04/06/2023

### Abstract:

Through This research paper we will highlight the conceptual framework of the blue economy, clarify its most important principles, and indicate the importance of the blue economy and its most important sectors. In the end, we will present the endeavors and experiences of some Arab countries in this field, which became clear that, despite the novelty of the term, Arab countries have had successful experiences to some extent in this field.

**Key words:** blue economy, sustainable development, Arab countries, fishing, beach tourism.

**JEL Classification Codes:** Q01, Q22, Q56.
**Introduction :**

Following the 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio + 20), the idea of the "blue economy" emerged. This type of economy is anticipated by the entire world, including nations, international organizations, researchers, academics, and specialists, because it offers yet another opportunity to achieve food security, sustainable development, and feed the world's expanding population effectively by exploiting natural resources in the seas and oceans, and protecting the surrounding environment.
The main goal of this economy is to reduce environmental risks, resource scarcity, and behaviours that contribute to climate change, as well as maintain the safety of water bodies from mounting threats like pollution and fishing.

Due to all of these factors, the world's decision-makers have turned their attention
to this developing economy. In particular, marine and water resources have become a
key area for international investors because they are the safest substitute for traditional
resources in the face of fierce competition among major economic powers.

Any fluctuation in this resource means that these systems are subjected to a violent economic shock given the tremors that the global oil markets have experienced and the resulting noticeable impact on the producing and importing countries, including the Arab countries whose economies are the main source of oil. It has become crucial to discuss a renewable substitute for this resource, and it is for this reason that the blue economy, which is regarded as one of the most This, with significant alternatives available to the Arab countries producing it, is a promising area for investment.

Based on the foregoing, the main research problem is raised:

What are the most significant Arab endeavours, initiatives, and efforts that have been
made for the development of the blue economy in light of its importance?

The researcher hypothesizes the following:

- Many countries, especially Arab countries, have taken important measures and steps to move towards a blue economy.

This study aims to:
- Highlight the concept of the blue economy, its objectives, principles, importance and its affiliated sectors.

- Clarify the most important pioneering Arab endeavours and experiences in this field.

- Increasing the awareness of decision-makers, civil society and the private sector of the necessity and importance of the blue economy.

The research adopts the descriptive approach, as it is most appropriate to the nature of the subject, by analyzing the data related to the blue economy, clarifying its concept, its most important principles and objectives, analyzing the areas of activities related to it and the advantages of its application, and trying to identify the most important Arab efforts to keep pace with developments in this field.

# 1. Conceptual framework of the blue economy:

The term "blue economy" first appeared in the 90s of the twentieth century by the Belgian businessman Pauli Gunther, and its concept can be explained as follows:

## 1.1. The concept of the "blue economy":

The term "blue economy" has been defined in a number of ways, the most significant of which can be explained as follows: The United Nations Environment Program, which launched the concept of the blue economy at the level of island countries, especially the Caribbean islands, defines this concept as: "an economy that improves human well-being and promotes social justice, while significantly reducing environmental risks and scarcity of resources." (Rahman, 2020, p. 183). Moreover, the World Bank defines the "blue economy," which has expanded its concept to include other developing countries around the world, as: "the sum of the relevant economic sectors and policies that together determine whether the use of ocean resources is sustainable." (Economic, Social and Environmental Council, 2018)

The European Commission defines the blue economy, which has been adopted as a new growth model for the countries of the European Union, as: "The maritime economy, also known as the blue economy, or the sea economy, includes all economic activities related to the oceans, seas, and coasts" (Rahman, 2020). It is also defined as: "the set of human activities related to the sea and/or supported by land-sea interactions in the context of sustainable development." Some economic activities include aquaculture, fishing, marine biotechnology, marine tourism, shipping, shipbuilding, and renewable energy generation (wind, Tides). (Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly, 2019)
Furthermore, the WWF defines a sustainable blue economy as: "An economy based on the marine environment that provides economic and social benefits for the present and the future, restores and maintains the diversity, productivity, and resilience of marine systems, and relies on clean technology, renewable energy, and the circular economy" (Emirates Nature Association, 2020).

The "blue economy" refers to the successful management of water resources, reliance on the seas and oceans for sustainable development, eradication of poverty, and attainment of food self-sufficiency. With the aim of guiding economic growth, improving livelihoods, and creating job opportunities, it relates to the sustainable use and conservation of water resources, specifically oceans, seas, lakes, and rivers, while ensuring respect for the environment, cultural values, and biodiversity.

**1.2. The origin of the concept of the blue economy and international mobilization for its integration:**

The concept of the blue economy first appeared in 1990 when it was launched by the Belgian businessman and economist Gunter Pauli, who published the first article in Seoul, Korea in 1991, highlighting the content of the blue economy, a concept that includes many economic activities, including marine, as it aims to integrate marine activities into a circular economy, through the principle of natural renewal, and therefore, through technological innovation and the opportunities for remanufacturing it offers.
(Rahman, 2020)

In 1994, the United Nations University invited Gunter Pauli to establish a think tank, aiming to create a new economic system free of any waste or emissions but which creates jobs and contributes to social capital. With the Kyoto Protocol as part of this process, Pauli established the ZERI Foundation (Zero Emissions Research and Initiatives) in 2004. With the help of financial experts, business strategists, policymakers, and academics, they compiled a list of 340 new technologies in 100 innovations, inspired by the ability of ecosystems to develop to the highest levels of efficiency, arranging nutrients and energy and not letting anything go to waste, utilizing the capabilities of all contributors, and responding to the basic needs of all. (Rahman, 2020)

The book, which was authored by Pauli under the title "The Blue Economy: Ten Years, One Hundred Inventions and Discoveries, and One Hundred Million Jobs," which was published in 2010, contributed to popularizing the concept of the blue economy. Through it, Pauli tried to persuade investors and businessmen to achieve economic development by taking advantage of the available environmental and non-
environmental resources and alternatives and through innovative solutions, instead of
following traditional solutions and spending huge amounts of money and investment on
typical energy-draining projects. (Favorite, 2019)

The concept of the blue economy was getting more recognition during the wake of the
global initiative launched by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations ("FAO") in 2012, through the work of the World Environment Conference in the
Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro, and in 2013, the "FAO" launched an initiative called the
"Blue Growth Initiative." This initiative focuses on fisheries, aquaculture, ecosystem
services, trade, and social protection, and calls for ways to achieve a balance between
economic growth and development. It supports the transition to a blue economy and
helps countries develop and implement blue economy and growth agendas. social, food,
and environmentally sound use of aquatic living resources. (Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations, 2014)

Accordingly, international efforts had a role in integrating the concept of the blue
economy into global agendas, and this was further embodied in 2015 in the 2030 Agenda
for Sustainable Development of the United Nations and its 17 Sustainable Development
Goals, through Goal No. 14. As called for by the Declaration of the Second Blue Economy
Summit, held in 2016 in Abu Dhabi, countries and international organizations took joint
actions and facilitated the contribution of the blue economy to achieving sustainable
development goals and the Paris Agreement on climate change, and the European Union
launched a blue growth strategy aimed at promoting sustainable growth in the maritime
sector. The Mediterranean called for action to promote the blue economy by providing
its support for the implementation of regional plans related to water, the environment,
and the blue economy. The blue economy was also included in the African Union's
Agenda 2063 as one of the drivers of the structural transformation of the African
continent. (Social and Environmental Council, 2018)

Therefore, many international conferences have been held to discuss the various
aspects of the blue economy. Six years after the emergence of this term, the Kenyan
capital, Nairobi, hosted in 2018, the "Sustainability of the Blue Economy" conference,
attended by nearly 18,000 delegates from 184 countries. The estimates indicate that this
type of economy will grow at twice the growth rate of the traditional economy until 2030.
## 2. The advantages and principles of the blue economy:

### 2.1. Advantages of the blue economy:

The most substantial advantages of the blue economy can be outlined as follows:
(Rahman, 2020)

The blue economy organizes values and produces zero waste: it transforms businesses by utilizing readily available resources in sequencing systems, where the waste of a single product serves as an input to generate a new cash flow. The blue economy prioritizes regional development and aims to create jobs and build capital for social assistance, revenue increase, and ecosystem regeneration. The blue economy is an opportunity for economic development and wealth creation: It should be noted that the blue economy includes all the elements of the current wave of global innovation and uses the radical recovery of resources, the abolition of waste, and renewable energy sources, along with green chemistry and green nanotechnology, to rejuvenate ecosystems, build the economy, and achieve prosperity for all.

### 2.2. Principles of the Blue Economy:

The World Wide Fund for Nature has presented a set of principles for the blue economy, including (Seham, 2019)

- providing social and economic benefits for the present and future generations by helping to achieve food security, end poverty, raise living standards, increase income, create safe jobs, and achieve long-term health, security, and political development;

- Preserving the diversity, productivity, functionality and value of marine ecosystems and the natural returns on which their prosperity depends;

- Relying on clean technology, renewable energy and material recycling, to ensure economic and social sustainability at all times;

- The management of the blue economy is controlled by public and private systems, through the use of management methods that are comprehensive, sustainable, preventive and adaptive, responsible, transparent and innovative;

- Support dialogue with stakeholders, with the importance of developing a common definition and frame of reference for the blue economy;

- Enhance the commitment of the government and all relevant stakeholders to the vision of a sustainable blue economy, and work to turn this vision into a reality;

- Communicating about the blue economy with stakeholders in decision-making processes, as well as in the educational or awareness-raising framework;

- Guiding decision-making on the blue economy in both the public and private sectors.
**3. The importance of the blue economy and its most important sectors:**

The blue economy is based on marine activities in bodies of water such as oceans, seas, and lakes, such as fishing, maritime transport, logistics, exploitation of fish and marine wealth, and mining, in order to achieve the best possible return from these economic activities. Production from this economy of all kinds is given blue gold for the material return that is achieved from it.

**3.1. Sectors of the blue economy:**

Alongside the traditional marine sectors such as fishing, tourism, and port activities, the blue economy now includes new sectors with high growth potential, as the blue economy contains many interconnected sectors, and has great potential to achieve growth and support economic development. These sectors include the following areas: Production of renewable energies, extraction of mineral wealth in deep waters, offshore oil and gas production, port activity, shipbuilding and repair, short and long-distance shipping, fishing including combating illegal and unregulated fishing, aquaculture, bioprospecting, biotechnology, Coastal and Marine Tourism, Action against Ocean Nutrient Pollution (particularly related to agriculture and wastewater management) (Khayati, 2020)

Identifying the associated economic activities and development opportunities helps make the blue economy's significance more apparent. The following explanation explains which of these activities is most crucial: (Laour, 2019)

- **Shipping and port facilities:** As about 80% of the world's trade volume and 70% of its value passed through seas and international ports in 2016, and as expected to double, maritime Transport is the primary mode of transportation to supply markets with raw materials, consumer goods, basic foodstuffs, and energy. By 2050, the number of exchanges passing through the ports will have quadrupled.

- **Fisheries and aquaculture:** About 820 million people who work in the major fisheries and aquaculture-related fields in small-scale fisheries derive their livelihood from fishing in the marine and continental waters. (World bank group, 2016), where it depends on between 10 to 12% of the world's population depends on fisheries and aquaculture for their livelihood, and fishing is a source of food for about 0.3 billion people, and the potential economic gains from restoring fish stocks are estimated at 50 billion dollars annually.
One of the potential future solutions to make up for the anticipated shortage of animal proteins is aquaculture, which, according to an FAO report published in 2016, provides about 59 percent of the fish sold on the global market.

- **Beach tourism, marine entertainment, and water leisure activities:** The majority of tourism activities worldwide are centred in coastal regions, with beach tourism being the most common type of travel. By 2022, it is predicted that the global market for marine entertainment and water sports will be worth about $30 billion.

- **Energy:** The oceans offer a variety of energy sources, including kinetic energy, thermal energy conversion, and energy from waves and tidal movement, all of which represent promising future solutions. More than 30% of the world's oil and gas production comes from the sea, and the oceans can provide a renewable source of energy by using modern technologies to generate energy from wind and waves, which is expected to generate 175 megawatts of energy by the year 2035. Marine wind energy also offers great potential for the advancement of renewable energy.

- **Desalination of seawater to address stress or water shortage:** By 2025, 3 billion people are predicted to experience water stress, making it crucial to ensure there is enough water available. The total number of desalination plants in the world in 2017 reached 18,400 stations, and the production volume of the water desalination industry reached 80 million cubic meters of potable water per day, for the benefit of a population of more than 300 million people.

- **Marine Biotechnologies:** This field consists of a collection of technologies that primarily focus on industrial applications across a broad spectrum. Through its many fields of application, which include pharmaceutics, cosmetics, and food products, biotechnology offers potential at a global level of more than $2,700 billion dollars. beverages, plant products, seeds, crop protection, and industrial biotechnology.

- **Extractive industries and oil and mineral wealth:** Since about 20% of the world's oil reserves and about 30% of the world's natural gas reserves are in the marine field, the seas and oceans are abundant in both energy and mineral resources.

- **Shipbuilding and dismantling:** Shipbuilding and dismantling constitute an important market, as there are more than 100,000 major ships in use, and global revenues from shipbuilding and repair in 2016 amounted to about 262.3 billion dollars, and at least 1,400 ships are dismantled every year, representing an annual value of 3 billion euros.
**3.2. The Importance of the Blue Economy:**

The seas and oceans, as an engine of economic growth, are one of the main factors that determine the strength of countries and their level of development. The Earth's surface provides more than half of the world's oxygen, absorbs about 50% of harmful emissions from land, and incubates between 50-80% of all life on Earth, where marine life represents approximately 99% of life forms. According to the World Fund for Nature, only 1% remains on land, and the value of all major assets in the seas and oceans, according to the World Fund for Nature, is estimated at more than 24 trillion dollars, and fish caught from the seas and oceans provide nutrition, livelihoods, and food security for coastal populations. It is an important driver of economic development, especially in developing countries.

According to a World Bank study, the blue economy generates about $83 billion annually for the global economy, supports about 5.4 million jobs, and adds about $6.3 trillion to the total value of the economy. This indicates that the blue economy is significant and essential to the global economy. By 2025, it is predicted that offshore fields will provide about 34% of the world's crude oil, generating about 500 billion euros annually. (World bank group, 2016)

The blue economy also acts as a catalyst for policy development, investment and innovation in support of food security, and many industrialized countries have witnessed the development of their blue economies significantly through the exploitation of marine resources, shipping, commercial fishing, oil and mining industries, which gives island countries hope for a brighter future.

At the level of countries and regions, reports indicate that the total return expected to be obtained in China from the maritime economy in 2020 will reach 9 trillion yuan, constituting more than 10% of GDP, and the production value of the maritime economy in Europe is about 600 billion. In Southeast Asia, the revenue from fishing related to coral reefs in Indonesia and the Philippines is estimated at $3 billion annually, while the value of the revenue generated from tourism related to coral reefs is estimated at about $300 million annually. The total value of available fisheries in Africa is more than $250 billion. (Economic, Social and Environmental Council, 2018)

**4. The experiences of some Arab countries in the field of the blue economy:**

The blue economy is seen as a promising field for investment, particularly since it is one of the most significant alternatives available to oil-exporting and -importing countries, in light of the tendency of many oil-producing countries to work on finding
other productive sectors that contribute to increasing their national income, especially since the blue economy yields a rewarding material income, and the interest in its various sectors provides wide investment opportunities.

Regardless of the novelty of the term "blue economy," Arab countries have experience in this field that can be considered successful to some extent, with more successes expected during the future period, the most important of which can be mentioned as follows:

**4.1. Morocco:**

When it comes to Arab nations, the Kingdom of Morocco is leading the way in implementing the blue economy, as it is considered one of the countries that have enormous potential in the field of the blue economy thanks to its geostrategic location overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, and the length of its maritime coasts, which qualifies it to make the blue economy an essential pillar for achieving development in the country, especially since between the period from 2010 to 2020, marine production increased by 28% in terms of weight and 75% in terms of value.

The Moroccan experience is considered one of the successful experiences in the field of the blue economy, as it focused on developing the fish industry sector and enhancing its role in the economy by setting a development vision for this industry by 2030, as the Moroccan government aspires to raise its fish production to one million tons annually by 2030, while the FAO expects Morocco's production to rise by about 2.18% by 2030 to reach 7.1 million tons of fish annually, which would support the Moroccan economy significantly. (Mujahid, 2019)

Morocco also bet on port activities, which include transporting passengers and goods, building and repairing ships, and developed a plan to increase the transport of passengers on board ships from 3 to 7.6 million annually in 2030. It also seeks to raise the competitiveness of maritime transport, which secures 95% of commercial exchanges. between the Kingdom and abroad.

Morocco, as part of its adoption of the concept of the blue economy, launched the Blue Belt Initiative for Sustainable Fishing in Africa in 2016, during the United Nations Conference on Climate Change "COP22", held in Marrakesh, with the aim of transforming the marine fishing sector into a sustainable and wealth-creating activity. In order to protect marine ecosystems, through the establishment of marine reserves, the sustainable exploitation of fish stocks, and the development of methods for valuing fish products in light of the growing global demand, in addition to Africa For Water initiative,
which are projects that seek to develop aquatic ecosystems to develop a blue economy
sustainable partnership with all stakeholders. (Economic, Social and Environmental
Council, 2018)

Marrakech also hosted the ninth conference on international waters of the Global Environment Fund in 2018. The importance of this conference comes from providing an opportunity to exchange experiences related to project management in the field of water and oceans, discuss emerging priorities in this field, and improve the overall performance of managing GEF projects.

As a result, Morocco is working to maximize the advantages of the blue economy in an effort to accelerate development rates and provide financial revenues that help reduce the chronic budget deficit. This is because the elements of this type of economy play a significant role in Morocco's development framework.

**4.2. United Arab Emirates:**

The UAE is eager to expand the blue economy's role within its development plans because it significantly contributes to the country's income diversification policy due to the marine environment, which is the primary engine of the UAE economy and accounts for 90% of the country's population. Because DP World has operations in 40 countries, covering all continents except for Antarctica, and because the Emirates are coastal nations where 98% of the freshwater used is desalinated from seawater, the blue economy accounts for 68% of the nation's GDP.(Emirates Nature Association, 2020)

The UAE's interest in the blue economy is embodied in its launch of many initiatives and projects that support the protection of the marine environment and stimulate innovation in the areas of ocean sustainability and technologies related to the blue economy, as it has adopted many plans and visions aimed at preserving the environment and water resources, the most important of which are the Abu Dhabi Marine Plan 2030, the Zayed Network for Marine Reserves, and the National Agenda for the UAE Vision 2021, which aim to preserve water resources and enhance dependence on green energy, according to indicators that ensure the continuity of sustainable development. During the activities of the first day of the World Government Summit held at Expo 2020 Dubai, the "Umm Al Qaiwain Strategy for Sustainable Blue Economy 2031" was launched and aims to triple its GDP growth by 2031.

The UAE is also the first nation in the Middle East to host the sixth World Ocean Summit session, which symbolizes the recognition of its efforts on a global scale to protect the marine environment and sheds light on topics related to the blue economy, which
have drawn more attention recently. The summit covered the period's crucial global
recommendations and practical steps to protect the oceans, the most significant and
priceless natural resource in the world.

4.3. Tunisia:

Due to its geographic location—the Tunisian maritime space covers about 130,000 square meters, or roughly two-thirds of Tunisian soil—the country of Tunisia has been slow to adopt the idea of the blue economy. In addition to bays, lakes, wet areas, sandy beaches, islands and archaeological sites, Tunisia is characterised by a coastal area extending more than 1,300 km along the length of the Republic of Tunisia, and it owns 41 ports and harbours for fishing; 60,000 fishermen, and the sector provides 100,000 direct and indirect jobs and a fleet of more than 13,000 vessels. Tunisia also includes 10 fishing ports in Tabarka, Bizerte, and Kelibia. Sousse, Tablaba, Mahdia, Sfax, Gabes and Zarzis, extract about 150 thousand tons of fish annually. (Boazza, 2020)

The country of Tunisia is distinguished by a crucial strategic location that would turn it into an African seaport and a leader in this industry on the continent of Africa. In light of the programming of the passage of the Maritime Silk Line to support Tunisia's positioning Within the global trade and economy map, this location connects in the north between the Mediterranean and the sub-Saharan Sea, making it a corridor for various global maritime routes.

Due to this, the Tunisian Institute for Strategic Studies, in collaboration with the Wilaya of Bizerte, the Union for the Mediterranean, the European Union, and the French Embassy in Tunisia, hosted the first edition of the Blue Economy Forum's events in 2018. The Blue Economy Forum's second session was held in Tunisia in 2019 as well. 150 international delegates, including investors, businesspeople, policymakers, and ocean experts, gathered in Africa to discuss the opportunities presented by the blue economy there. the continent of Africa's economic, social, and environmental well-being. (Tunisian Radio Portal, 2020)

Moreover, Tunisia has embarked on developing strategic milestones for the
development of the blue economy within the blue economy program developed and
supervised by the World Bank in 2018 to be one of the sustainable pillars of
comprehensive development in the country, through a roadmap for developing the
fishing industry sector and enhancing its contribution to the GDP during the coming
years, and the blue economy strategy in Tunisia, which extends from 10 to 20 years, will
be prepared and approved by Tunisian institutions by organizing workshops on several
specialized topics.

The Westmead Society also announced an initiative aimed at developing an integrated maritime policy that leads to coordination between institutions to drive blue growth by launching a package of projects. It is related to stimulating 12 activities, including aquaculture, biotechnology, sustainable tourism, and marine construction, including shipbuilding.

In addition to Tunisia, the initiative includes Algeria, Spain, France, Italy, Libya, Malta, Morocco, Mauritania, and Portugal, and aims to create a safer and safer maritime space and better management of the maritime space. (Tunisian Radio Portal, 2020)

**5.4. The Sultanate of Oman:**

According to expert Gunter Pauli, the Sultanate of Oman is an island of peace and stability because of the fantastic opportunities it offers for investment in the blue economy. He emphasized that the Sultanate uses its financial resources carefully in order to achieve financial stability. the marine mining industry, given the Sultanate's 3165 km of coastline and its large fishing fleet, which included more than 24,000 ships and boats in 2017. Fish farming projects will add 222 million Omani riyals to the GDP and generate 4,611 jobs for Omanis.

The Sultanate possesses many of the ingredients that qualify it to lead in the field of the blue economy, as it owns educational and academic institutions in this field, in addition to the great growth and development in the infrastructure, logistics and ports sector.

It enhances the Sultanate's economic position and financial sustainability, making it ready to delve deeper into the world of the blue economy. (Al-Muqbali, 2020)

The fishing sector in the Sultanate is one of the important economic and productive sectors, and it has a major economic role and comes on top of the non-oil sectors that generate income for the Sultanate. This vital sector of fisheries and fish farming projects contributes to increasing fish production and food production and achieving a degree of food security, employing Omani labour and localizing modern technology applications, as well as providing wide investment opportunities to establish advanced fisheries that would supply the local market with high-quality fish products.

The most important efforts undertaken by the Sultanate in the field of the blue economy are the participation in the initiatives of the FAO Blue Economy Organization. In 2016, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations chose the Sultanate
of Oman, represented by the Ministry of Agricultural Wealth, Fisheries and Water Resources, along with six other Arab countries that have pioneering experience. Fisheries development is part of what is known as the blue economy, where the fisheries sector in the Sultanate plays an important role in achieving food security as it is one of the important economic and productive sectors. (Mujahid, 2019)

The Sultanate's hosting of the International Forum for Science and Future Technology Diplomacy "Conference on Ocean Economy and Future Technology" in 2019, where the forum included 32 countries, aims to discover economic opportunities in the seas and oceans, and the role of future technology in enhancing their returns on the global economy in general and the Sultanate's economy in particular.

## 4.5 Algeria :

Due to its strategic location, Algeria is one of the countries that can effectively adopt, develop, and use the fields and activities of the blue economy. The Algerian coastal regions are one of the main forces behind local economic development, with a length of about 1280 km and an estimated average continental shelf width of 5.9 million hectares, a length of 24 km, and the widest point of 90 km. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea as well as the shipping routes that overlook the international routes of ships transiting to Europe. (Laour, Going towards the blue economy... as a new path to achieving sustainable development in Algeria across the Mediterranean, 2019, p. 383)

In addition to the enormous stock of fisheries estimated at 580,000 tons and more than 194 species, which is one of the highest returns at sea level, the Algerian coast contains a large reserve of red coral and sponges, as well as more than 600 species of algae that can be used in many fields such as agriculture, industry, and medicine. Thus, the fishing sector is considered one of the important and vital sectors of the national economy in terms of its ability to contribute to providing food security and achieving economic development. Algeria also contains about 100,000 hectares of natural and artificial water bodies suitable for developing aquaculture activities and inland fishing. (Laour, Going towards the blue economy... as a new path to achieving sustainable development in Algeria across the Mediterranean, 2019)

Algeria can develop fisheries wealth through the implementation of many development projects in this field, such as ports, markets, cold stores, developing the fishing fleet, as well fish farming and stimulating exports, and this would place Algeria among the important countries in fish production, and thus can achieve economic growth
by preserving the resources, whether fish, natural or aquatic, while providing job opportunities for citizens.

In this context, Algeria, with funding from the European Union, has embarked on preparing a national strategy for the blue economy until 2030, which includes all economic activities related to the sea. local and civil society.

With a cover of 22 million euros, the support program for the blue economy in Algeria will be financed. In order to diversify Algeria's economy and ensure sustainable development, the national strategy for the blue economy aims to create a new vision for marine and navigation activities while luring public and private investors.

**Conclusion :**

Based on the aforementioned, it is clear that the blue economy has already begun to take its place within the global economy, based on its importance in contributing to economic growth rates, improving the standard of living of individuals, preserving the environment in a sustainable manner employment opportunities, and diversification of exports, however, achieving greater returns requires more good planning and investments and focusing on priority sectors based on the available capabilities, and although the Arab countries have taken their first steps in adopting the concept of the blue economy, they remain insufficient and limited. Given the wealth of resources it possesses and its potential for leadership in the blue economy, as well as the fact Since the oceans, seas, and marine resources rank among the most significant, priceless, and lucrative natural resources, it is necessary that they are as follows:

- The Arab countries must adopt the blue economy as a new opportunity for development, as the sustainable economy of the oceans constitutes a real opportunity for them to protect their biodiversity, preserve their food and climate security, and the diversity of their sources of income;

- Determining the long-term goals of the blue economy strategy, taking into account the promotion of sustainable social and economic development, striving to develop the potential of current sectors while encouraging emerging sectors, investing in promising future sectors such as biotechnology, and accelerating the ecological transition of the marine and coastal areas, in accordance with the concept of sustainability;

- Strengthening the support provided by the state for the development of infrastructure: ports, and the naval fleet to make it more efficient and more environmentally friendly;
- Developing responsible and local tourism systems, such as sports activities, exploration activities, and beach activities.

- Establishing marine project incubators, in order to encourage and incubate innovative ideas in this field;

- Developing partnerships at the international, national and regional levels between the sectors of health, energy, environment and ecology, while ensuring the integration of research centres, university institutions and industrial actors in these efforts.

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- The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2 7, 2014). Blue growth - liberating the potential of the seas and oceans. Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/zhc/detail-events/ar/c/234045

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- Tunisian Radio Portal. (30.06.2020). Tunisia set out to prepare its strategy to focus on the foundations of the blue economy within the framework of a Mediterranean orientation. Retrieved from the Tunisian Radio Portal: http://www.radiotunisienne.tn

- Waheed Muhammad Mufaddal. (25 03, 2019). The blue economy... the alignment between the economy and the environment. Retrieved from Scientific Progress: https://taqadom.aspdkw.com

- World bank group. (2016). Blue Economy Development Framework.