THE SECTOR
In recognition of the importance of the oceans in climate, biodiversity and ecosystem and human well-being support services, ‘blue’ finance is evolving rapidly within the broader landscape of sustainable finance to generate beneficial outcomes more specifically for the marine environment.
The ocean provides humanity with food, energy and trade opportunities, and plays a significant role in ensuring stability of the Earth system. For a healthy ocean, it is vital that flows of finance are channelled towards activities that focus on long-term sustainability, through promoting environmental conservation and practices that ensure the wellbeing of communities that depend on the ocean. Such financial flows are referred to as ‘blue finance’.
OUR EXPERTISE
Blueshift has been working at the cutting edge of some of these initiatives. For example, we undertook the fist assessment of the carbon footprint of the Australian seafood industries (LINK) , and have undertaken work on nature based accounting of bivalve aquaculture seeking to determine their additional financial benefits from carbon and nutrient uptake (LINK) and have assessed the opportunities for development and operation of environmental markets for seaweed farming (for carbon, nutrient and biodiversity outcome commodification and trading (LINK).
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
The bigger blue potential for Asparagopsis: A review of the potential for blue carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and biodiversity credits for the Australian Asparagopsis seaweed industry