The idea of the “blue economy” is compelling—and contested. On one hand, there is growing enthusiasm for using the oceans’ resources to grow economies and improve livelihoods while maintaining healthy marine ecosystems. On the other hand, the acceleration of ocean-based economic activity threatens to overwhelm increasingly vulnerable environments and communities. This is particularly important for small-scale fishing communities, which is likely the oceans’ largest source of livelihoods.

The global economy relies heavily on healthy coastal and ocean resources for diverse industries such as fishing, tourism and recreation, minerals, and transportation. Nearly one out of every six jobs in the U.S. depends on the blue economy, while fish protein is an essential part of diets in coastal communities around the world. Moreover, the ocean plays a central role in regulating the Earth's climate but is often overlooked in conversations about climate change.

The first Blue Economy Summit at Duke University brings together diverse stakeholders from industry, government, non-profits, and academia to critically reflect on the challenges and opportunities of a sustainable ocean economy.

This deep dive session at the RI Canada 2021 conference will explore how Canada’s oceans expertise can support global sustainable investing in fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, and new technology areas. John Virdin, director of the Nicholas Institute's Ocean and Coastal Policy Program, will be among the speakers.

John Virdin, Director of the Ocean and Coastal Policy Program, is among the panelists for "The Anthropocene Ocean" on January 27.

John Virdin, director of the Ocean and Coastal Policy Program at Duke University's Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions, will speak at the week-long Global Forum on Education and Innovation in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil.

Ocean and Coastal Policy Program director John Virdin will share his expertise on the so-called blue economy at several side events at the Ocean Conference, the high-level United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. The conference will be convened at United Nations Headquarters in New York, June 5–9, coinciding with World Oceans Day, June 8.

Virdin will serve as a panelist at three side events: Financing for the Blue Economy in Small Island Developing States, sponsored by Grenada and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (June 5, 11 a.m.), Adopting the Blue Economy: A Viable Path to Sustainable Development in Small Island Developing States, sponsored by Grenada, the Netherlands, Cabo Verde, and the Food and Agriculture Organization (June 5, 1:15 p.m.), and The Role of the Oceans in Sustainability: Benefits of Achieving SDG 14 for all Sustainable Development Goals, sponsored by the Nippon Foundation (June 9, 5 p.m.).

Rising sea levels, storms, and degradation of coastal habitats threaten more than 8 percent of U.S. jobs and GDP that our coastal economy helps to generate. Ocean and Coastal Policy Program director John Virdin will talk about those problems and potential solutions as a member of the Blue Economy Panel at the 6th Blue Vision Summit in Washington, D.C., May 9–11. The summit brings ocean conservation leaders together every two years to network, build the blue movement, and meet with the administration and Congress.

John Virdin, director of the Ocean and Coastal Policy Program at the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions, will give two presentations during Blue Week 2016: The International Conference to Promote Blue Growth and Investment in St. George’s, Grenada, May 14-22.

At the conference, Virdin will focus discussion on major elements, principles and prospects for blue growth and blue economy. He will share a conceptual framework for the blue economy/blue growth to achieve the sustainable development target 14.7.

John Virdin, director of the Ocean and Coastal Policy Program at the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions, will speak on the panel "Steering Africa’s Blue Economy: The Role of International Law and Lessons for Other Maritime Regions" at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the American Society of International Law April 1.

Linwood Pendleton, director of the Nicholas Institute's Ocean and Coastal Policy Program, will speak on blue carbon during the University of Aukland's Research Seminar Series September 4.