An aerial view of the Monterey Bay including boat harbor, city and hills, with view to the Pacific Ocean beyond

Our mission at the Center for the Blue Economy is to provide economic and policy analysis that supports the development of a robust and equitable blue economy for the 21st century.

What is the “Blue Economy?”

The Center uses the World Bank’s definition of the Blue Economy: the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs, and ocean ecosystem health.

Our Research

Our research focuses primarily on two key areas—1) helping organizations and governments measure their ocean and coastal economies in order to help guide policy, and 2) the economics of climate change adaptation in coastal regions.  While the Center examines economic activities in the open ocean—e.g., renewable energy, fisheries, and shipping—we devote most of our attention to issues in coastal zones, particularly building climate resilience and helping coastal communities adapt to climate impacts.


 

Introduction to the Blue Economy

Online, Self-Paced Course

The "tourist wharf" in Monterey CA, a restaurant over pilings above a calm harbor, with commercial fishing boats and recreational sailboats in the background, blue sky, blue water, brown wharf, pink-orange restaruant, and white boats.

This three- to five-hour self-paced course will expand your knowledge of the blue economy and lay a foundation for deeper learning in more specialized topics.  The Introduction to the Blue Economy course is completely online, asynchronous, and self-paced. You’ll enjoy the flexibility to learn on your own time, from anywhere in the world.This noncredit course is taught by Dr. Charles Colgan, the Director of Research at the Center for the Blue Economy and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Ocean and Coastal Economics.

LEARN MORE


 


Student Opportunities

The Center supports our master’s students through funded fellowship opportunities made possible by generous donors.  Students in the Environmental Policy and Management program (formerly the International Environmental Policy program) who declare the Ocean and Coastal Resource Management specialization have multiple opportunities to gain real-world experiences with marine-focused organizations in our large network throughout their graduate studies. Students also have opportunities to work with Center staff on our current research projects. By the time our students graduate they have a portfolio of real-world experiences that make them extremely attractive to potential employers.

a bright, smiling Molly Ryan leaning against a blue wall

Student Name:  Molly Ryan

Fellowship with the Permanent Mission of Vanuatu to the United Nations

June 13-September 5, 2022

New York, New York, USA

The Republic of Vanuatu announced its intentions to seek an Advisory Opinion from the International Court of Justice on the issue of climate change and human rights, specifically to seek clarification of the legal duties of large emitters of greenhouse gases with respect to present and future generations. The campaign seeks to put this as a resolution to the United Nations General Assembly where all countries will be asked to vote on the Vanuatu proposal. Molly assisted the Vanuatu legal and communications team on this campaign, helped to plan a conference on the legal implications of the Advisory Opinion, and she was flown out to New York to meet the team. “The date that the UN General Assembly will be voting got pushed to this March 2023, so we are all waiting in anxious anticipation to see if our efforts pay off! It was an incredible experience and an inspiring group of people to work with,” Molly reflected.  

What is Molly up to now?  

“This spring I began working with ESP Advisors, an all-female ocean policy consulting group based in Washington, D.C. for my IPSS (International Professional Service Semester). So far it has also been a wonderful experience, though very different from my work with Vanuatu!”


Alumni Success

IEP OCRM Alumni Success

This video highlights a few graduates of the Environmental Policy and Management program (formerly the International Environmental Policy program) who have the Ocean and Coastal Resource Management specialization—a specialization that the Center for the Blue Economy helped to establish more than 10 years ago. OCRM alumni have done quite well in the job market, with approximately 94% currently employed in the ocean and coastal resource management field. Learn more on our Networking and Alumni Success page. 

Center for the Blue Economy News


Follow us on Social Media

on Facebook @CenterForTheBlueEconomy, Instagram @OceanClimateAction, and LinkedIn at Center for the Blue Economy at MIIS

Statement on Leaving Twitter/X

Over the past year we have watched in dismay as Twitter/X has increasingly become a platform for racism, bigotry, antisemitism, disinformation, and fascism. We no longer want to be part of this platform.  Please join us on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram.

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