The blue economy

Value added by marine businesses averaged 31 billion SEK during this period, making up 0.6 % of Sweden’s GDP. Export share for maritime industries was higher than the national average, driven by sectors like Maritime technology and Sea as a natural resource. The shipping sector, responsible for a significant portion of imports and exports, demonstrated growth in value added which was higher compared to the Swedish sector as a whole, despite declining vessel numbers and employment. Sweden’s fishing sector saw fluctuating catch values and declining number of vessels and employment from 2014 to 2020, despite increased landed values. Offshore wind power emerged as a growing sector, with substantial expansion expected to drive employment and economic activity across various industries in Sweden.

Regional differences are notable across the Gulf of Bothnia, Baltic Proper, and Kattegat-Skagerrak. The Kattegat-Skagerrak area stands out with its shipping and fishery sectors, contributing 61 % of Sweden’s transport turnover and 46% of total fish catches. The Baltic Proper seems to be facing a decline in fish catches but remains an important hub for shipping, while the Gulf of Bothnia is less competitive overall, with smaller contributions from fishing and shipping. Wind farms are currently operational only in the Baltic Proper, though similar developments are expected in the Gulf of Bothnia and the Kattegat-Skagerrak area.

Currently, offshore wind farms are being built in relatively shallow areas of the continental shelf within national exclusive economic zones, up to 200 nautical miles from the coast. With the introduction of floating installations, the built-up seascape can theoretically be extended to any part of the sea.

Offshore wind farms create a new built-up seascape

We argue firstly that offshore installations, such as wind farms, should be considered part of a built seascape, and secondly that the current expansion of the built-up seascape represents such a fundamental shift for the blue economy and the maritime sector that it is appropriate to speak
of a ‘new blue’.

It is tempting to relate to innovation when thinking of the transformation in the “new blue”. Let us do that. Innovation is commonly referred to as the new or redistributed value, outcomes, results, and impact adopted by the context, market, society, and citizens on planet Earth. We often unconsciously overlook the fact that for an innovation to be adopted by people and have an impact, we need to consciously use common language, metaphors, attractive guiding images, compelling wordings, and knowledge of relational processes.It is tempting to relate to innovation when thinking of the transformation in the “new blue”. Let us do that. Innovation is commonly referred to as the new or redistributed value, outcomes, results, and impact adopted by the context, market, society, and citizens on planet Earth. We often unconsciously overlook the fact that for an innovation to be adopted by people and have an impact, we need to consciously use common language, metaphors, attractive guiding images, compelling wordings, and knowledge of relational processes.

Research on the new blue

The emotional and relational aspects of innovation are particularly relevant to consider in the ‘new blue’, as the built-up seascape challenges the established norm of human presence at sea, a norm that has been in place for centuries and millennia. In the research programme Mistra Co-Creating Better Blue (C2B2), our approach to innovation is to engage old and new stakeholders of the Swedish blue economy in processes “from data to knowledge to decision and actions”.

One of the most pressing concerns is the vulnerability of critical infrastructure. The damage to subsea gas pipelines and communication cables in recent years has exposed the fragility of these networks. The Baltic Sea, surrounded by multiple nations, some with competing interests, is a region where infrastructure security is increasingly under scrutiny. While offshore wind farms could contribute to clean energy production, they raise concerns over data security, navigation safety, and geopolitical tensions. Addressing these risks requires approaches that integrate security measures without hindering innovation.

Governing a complex and shared space

Governance is at the center of the built seascape debate. As a semi-enclosed and highly geopolitical space, the Baltic Sea presents unique governance challenges. International agreements such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) provide a legal framework, but they do not fully address the complexities of offshore digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, and the integration of civilian and defense technologies.

A key challenge is ensuring that governance keeps pace with technological change, particularly as the expansion of offshore infrastructure brings both opportunities and vulnerabilities. For instance, the rise of offshore wind farms in the Baltic Sea presents an energy security advantage. However, their integration with undersea communication cables and surveillance networks raises concerns about cybersecurity threats and geopolitical risks (Bueger & Liebetrau, 2021). Similarly, the dual-use nature of maritime technologies, such as autonomous underwater drones used for both environmental monitoring and naval reconnaissance, complicates regulatory oversight (Vaynman & Volpe, 2023).

Towards a resilient future for the Baltic Sea

The transformation of the Baltic Sea into a built seascape presents significant opportunities and new risks. Offshore energy production, digital connectivity, and advanced monitoring systems are essential for economic growth and sustainability, but they also introduce security vulnerabilities that cannot be ignored. Effective governance, enhanced cooperation, and strategic use of data will be key to ensuring that these built environments remain resilient and sustainable. Moving forward, policymakers, industries, and researchers must adopt a more integrated approach to managing built seascapes.

By strengthening cross-sectoral collaboration and improving data governance, we can navigate the challenges of this new maritime era – ensuring that the Baltic Sea remains a secure, thriving, and sustainable ocean space for generations to come. Looking at past and present global experiences of civilian-military and cross-sectorial collaborations could help navigate the current geopolitical landscape.

The OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) writes in Environment at a Glance Indicators that efficiency and optimization of natural marine resources within ecological limits is paramount in the blue economy. The ocean is seen as a space for development where marine spatial planning, especially at national level integrates the interests and needs of conservation, sustainable use, extractive activities, marine transportation and coastal tourism, and ensures that the integrity and functioning of coastal and ocean systems is maintained. According to the EU blue economy report 2021, a sustainable blue economy is a means to achieving the objectives of the European Green Deal and ensure a green and inclusive recovery from the pandemic.