Blue Growth for a better development of the sea: Report from Madeira archipelago

Abstract

This report has been prepared under the project MAC 2014-2020 –Bases para la planificacion Sostenible de áreas Marinas en la Macaronesia (PLASMAR), financedbyINTERREG –European Regional Development Fund. The main objective of this report is the state of play of blue growth, including the forecasted growth of the maritime sector in the Autonomous Region of Madeira. Blue activities (including fisheries and transport) will also be projected by 2030. The statistical information was based on the Instituto Nacional de Estatística (INE), Direção Regional de Estatística da Madeira and the Direção Regional de Trabalho e da Ação Inspectiva –Serviço de Estatística do Trabalho. Quantifying and measuring the economy of the sea still a hard task, as most of the data are dispersed across a number of formal sources, particularly in the economic, business and employment dimensions. A survey of current and potential areas for activities related to blue growth was also carried out, based on the various entities with responsibilities in the areas of the sea, the environment, nature conservation and the sectors of uses or activities developed in maritime space. This report will be a reference document for the development of the blue economy not only for Madeira, but also for the entire Macaronesia maritime space. Thus, the work process for its elaboration sought to bring together the contributions of analysis and proposal that reflect broad consensus around a strategy that should guide the future action of the differentactors of the economy of the sea.