World Ocean Day: WWF Calls on Governments for a “Blue Recovery Strategy”

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) on Monday, World Ocean Day, June 8, called on the governments of Mediterranean countries for a joint "Blue Recovery Strategy", as the sea is a key shared resource and it is essential for governments to focus on its protection and recovery.

WWF emphasizes in a statement that the coronavirus pandemic has affected all Mediterranean countries, and for many, excessive dependence on tourism can further complicate recovery. 

As part of the initiative "Blue Recovery for the Mediterranean" they estimate that the blue economy can generate an annual value of 450 billion US dollars, which is more than half of the annual EU Recovery Fund. However, society can only prosper from such an economy if the conservation of the sea becomes the norm, WWF states.

– Ecological disasters, increasingly warmer climate, extreme weather events, refugee crisis, unemployment, pandemic: we can say that the Mediterranean is in a constant state of emergency – says the head of the marine program at WWF Adria Danijel Kanski.

The halt of numerous maritime activities due to the Covid-19 pandemic has confirmed that reducing human pressure on the environment can allow fish stocks to recover. If we want to ensure enough resources for the future, bold changes are needed to protect nature and people, Kanski emphasizes.

To achieve the “Blue Recovery”, WWF highlights that two conditions must be met – to create conditions for the recovery of the sea and to redesign the economic system.

– Although leading world scientists state that at least 30 percent of the sea should be protected, only 1.27 percent of the Mediterranean is effectively protected – WWF emphasizes, adding that effective management of protected marine areas is crucial for the restoration of fish stocks, maintaining fishing and tourism activities, and regulating the climate.

Regarding the redesign of the economic system, WWF points out that an analysis for 2020 shows that all seven main maritime sectors – maritime transport, aquaculture, recreational and sports fishing, small-scale commercial fishing, cruise ships, nautical tourism, and offshore wind farms, rely on or compete for the same marine areas, resulting in increasing threats to nature, the economy, and people. 

– It should be particularly emphasized that the Croatian economy depends on the Adriatic Sea and the coast – primarily through tourism, but also through mariculture, fishing, and shipping. The way we have operated over the last 50 years is harmful and destructive. Such an approach benefits a minority and individuals, but certainly does not contribute to the preservation of our natural resources, a stable and sustainable economy and a better quality of life for all our citizens –  warns WWF Adria.

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