Europe's blue economy employs 4-5 million people and it's growing. Dr. Jann Martinsohn from the EU's Joint Research Centre explains why policymakers and investors need the best ocean data available.
If the ocean were a country, it would rank as the world's fifth largest economy, says Dr. Jann Martinsohn, who heads the Ocean and Water Unit at the European Commission's Joint Research Centre in Ispra, Italy.
"We, as human beings, are depending on a sustainable and also competitive economy, particularly here in Europe," says Martinsohn. "The ocean, coastal regions and the marine realm provide a huge opportunity. But we are also very aware that we are talking about a very fragile, very valuable and also vastly unknown realm and ecosystem."
The numbers tell a compelling story. According to a recent OECD report, the global ocean economy contributes roughly 3% to worldwide gross value added — a figure that holds true for the European Union as well. In Europe alone, the blue economy employs four to five million people across sectors ranging from established industries like fisheries and maritime transport to emerging fields such as biotechnology and robotics.
"We see growth overall in the blue economy," Martinsohn notes. "And that is, in the current economic situation, very important. It shows that we have an opportunity to help Europe become more competitive and grow."
Yet this growth depends on reliable information. Policymakers need data to implement effective regulations. Investors rely on forecasts to commit billions in capital. That's where Martinsohn's team at JRC comes in. The Ocean and Water Unit analyses information from industrial sectors, Eurostat, EU agencies and beyond, publishing findings in the annual EU Blue Economy Report. This document informs Brussels’ decision-making — from the common fisheries policy to the Zero Pollution Action Plan.
All year round, this research data remains publicly accessible through the EU Blue Economy Observatory — a free online platform offering interactive dashboards, charts and maps. "Stakeholders, be they policymakers or entrepreneurs, can see what is going on in blue economy sectors," Martinsohn explains.
The ocean offers enormous economic potential, from offshore wind to solar-powered desalination technologies that could provide freshwater for agriculture. But sustainable growth requires understanding the fragile marine ecosystems. Better data means better decisions — for Europe’s economy and the ocean itself.
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