Showcasing the potential of the BLUEMED initiative to stimulate investments, economic growth and jobs

Perspectives of the BLUEMED initiative in a new EU Member State

Ivica Vilibić, vilibic@izor.hrInstitute of Oceanography and Fisheries

Split, Croatia

CROATIAAccession to EU: 1 July 2013Population: 4.3 millionArea (land): 56.594 km2

Area (sea): 33.268 km2

1165 islands (49 inhabitated)

Very large percentage of sea in the territoryEnormous natural and cultural heritageAlmost all aspects of BlueMed SRIA relevantBlueMed SRIA is a waymark for future

BLUEMED SRIA Key Enabling Knowledge from a perspective of an EU newcomer is of utmost importance for keeping Adriatic Sea healthy, productive, resilient, known and valued !!!

National stategies and Implementation plans (Smart Specialisation, Sustainable Tourism, Fisheries, Aquaculture, Innovation Stategy, ...)

Understanding the ecosystem, sustainable exploitation, reducing hazard risks, adaptation to climate changes

Strategies are incorporating all boundary conditions, like overfishing, climate changes, ...

Going down to local (counties, cities, municipalities) ICZMs, Development Plans, Spatial Plans, ...

Sibenik-Knin County

An example: Exploitation of underwater resources - pro or contra, a hot issue in the Adriatic Sea, and not only here

BlueMed SRIA Action: “Develop and implement management plans for sustainable exploitation of coastal to deep-sea biotic and abiotic resources, including gas hydrates ...”

Without sufficient knowledge on ocean dynamics, potential spill trajectories, chemical interactions, ..., no reliable management plan can be created !!!

What leads to another BLUEMED SRIA Key Challange: Enabling Technology and Capacity relevant for keeping the Adriatic/Mediterranean Sea healthy, resilient, known and valued !!! BlueMed SRIA Challange: “Observing systems and operational oceanography capacities in the Mediterranean” A prerequisite for reaching a number of national BlueMed goals

Observing systems and operational oceanography capacities in the Mediterranean should be based on new technologies and adopted to problem-oriented issues BlueMed SRIA Goal: “Tailor-made sensors and platforms”

For marine hazards occurring over minutes (e.g. tsunamis) to years (e.g. erosion) BlueMed SRIA Action: “Develop new technologies and systems to enable spatial and temporal resolution and observation parameters to be improved in the coastal region (using both in situ and remote tools)”

Safety at sea – emerging issue nowadays !!! Also for Croatia, for a sustainable tourism, cargo and passanger traffic, refugees, ... BlueMed SRIA Action: “Develop Unmanned Autonomous Vehicles and related infrastructure that can extend the area - on the sea surface and underwater - for different types of operation, e.g. monitoring illegal activities, supporting search and rescue activities, helping the Civil Protection service respond to disasters, supporting offshore economic activities.”

Croatia is an eldorado of cultural heritage !!! An opportunity for blue jobs and growth (together with sustainable tourism) !!! BlueMed SRIA Goal: “Increase the economic impact of the Mediterranean’s cultural heritage.”

Split

Dubrovnik

Šibenik

Poreč

Trogir

The presented scanning of BlueMed SRIA Goals and Actions through Croatian

curent position are just a piece of actions enabling a new EU member state to

boost its blue growth !!!

Key messages: The BlueMed SRIA is a framework for blue growth of the whole Mediterranean region, as integrating research priorities and provides an added value to national research activities an opportunity which any EU newcomer country (Croatia or whoever in the future) do benefit and MUST incorporate in national strategies and legislative