Digital Technologies in the Blue Economy: Opportunities and Challenges

Abstract

The Blue Economy has emerged as a strategic means of attaining sustainable development of ocean resources by balancing economic growth, environmental stewardship, and social inclusion. At the same time, rapid advances in digital technologies are transforming the monitoring, management, and governance of marine and coastal resources. This chapter presents a systematic literature review to examine how digital technologies are reshaping major Ocean Economy sectors and the governance challenges accompanying this transformation. The review synthesizes evidence across fisheries and aquaculture, maritime transport, marine environmental conservation, coastal and marine tourism, and offshore renewable energy while critically examining issues related to regulatory coordination, institutional capacity, data governance, cybersecurity, digital integration and environmental preservation. Building on this synthesis, the chapter proposes an ‘Integrated Framework for Sustainable Digital Transformation of the Blue Economy’, which links technological foundations, sectoral transformation, governance and institutional capacity, and sustainability outcomes within a unified socio-technical perspective. The framework demonstrates that sustainable digital transformation requires more than emerging technologies but also adaptive governance, cross-sector collaboration, responsible implementation, and continuous institutional learning. By integrating these interdependent dimensions, the framework offers a robust basis for future empirical investigation and scholarly inquiry, policy development, and strategic decision-making. The chapter concludes by identifying future research priorities and policy recommendations to strengthen resilient, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable digital transformation across the ocean-based economy.

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