2023-08-12 12:00:18
Minsait there European Foundation for Innovation and Technology Application (Intec) believe that the industry blue economyis the one in which Spain “can exercise great leadership, a magnificent opportunity to grow with the help of technology and do so in a more sustainable way”.
It is one of the main conclusions of the ‘Blue Economy and Blue Growth 2023 Report’ prepared by Minsait and Intec and which includes the most important technologies to preserve the maritime environment, as well as the latest trends to encourage the blue economy in Spain and Europe.
As the report reflects, the blue economy accounts for 1.5% of the EU’s GDP, while Spain is one of the most important countries in Europe in terms of blue economy thanks to its long coastline and the presence of several regions autonomous with maritime activity. So much so that 3% of the national GDP corresponds to this sector, generating 4.9% of national employment.
The executive vice president of Intec, Juan Francisco Delgado, pointed out that Spain has “worldwide leading companies and we must be leaders in the implementation of technology and artificial intelligence to enhance our possibilities.”
The document shows the importance of taking advantage of the economic potential of the oceans and their resources, promoting a “more balanced and environmentally responsible” approach to guarantee their long-term conservation and avoid overexploitation.
To do this, it promotes conscious management of fishing, sustainable tourism, scientific research and technological innovation. This is possible thanks to the push and use of advanced technologies and artificial intelligence. More specifically, trends in this area are expected in the immediate future, such as the development of advanced maritime technologies, the circular economy in the marine sector, oceanic renewable energy, digitization and ‘big data’ in marine management or the development of sustainable tourism. in coastal areas.
A large part of these advances have artificial intelligence as the backbone, which, according to the report, allows the monitoring and management of marine resources through the collection and analysis of data, facilitating a better understanding and management of marine resources, the optimization of aquaculture operations to improve efficiency and environmental impact, or the development of smart marine technologies, such as autonomous underwater robots, advanced sensors and communication systems.
The director of Phygital Territories at Minsait, Alberto Bernal, pointed out that “these and other trends show how digitization and, especially, cutting-edge technologies such as AI, are already transforming ‘blue growth’ by improving efficiency, sustainability and management of marine resources, as well as promote research and proper exploration of the oceans”.
According to the report, one of the key areas of the blue economy is sustainable fishing, where it is “necessary to encourage responsible management models that ensure the conservation of fish populations and their reproduction, thanks to measures such as quotas and minimum catch sizes or protected areas to allow the recovery of endangered species”.
The report emphasizes that efforts should be made to preserve healthy seas and the sustainable use of marine resources, creating alternatives to fossil fuels and traditional food production.
Thus, it is about achieving the objectives of climate neutrality and zero pollution, particularly through the development of renewable marine energy, the decarbonization of maritime transport and the greening of ports. For this, it is necessary to complete the transition towards a circular economy and reduce pollution, as well as preserve biodiversity and invest in nature.
Likewise, Delgado pointed out that “in line with the Farm to Table Strategy, sustainable production and the new marketing standards for seafood, the use of algae, the reinforcement of fishing control and research and innovation in cellular aquaculture will contribute to preserving the seas and oceans”.
According to the report, thanks to the implementation of technological measures and tools to achieve sustainable fishing, such as automatic learning algorithms that identify illegal fishing patterns or the automation of various maritime processes with AI, the recovery of affected populations due to excessive fishing could increase production by 16.5 million tons.
The blue economy also encompasses sectors such as tourism, as healthy and well-preserved marine ecosystems are attractive to tourists, which also “creates opportunities for destinations, providing employment and economic growth without jeopardizing the integrity of ecosystems.”
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