Developing a sustainable ocean economy is vital to the future of our planet 

 

Nation states, business sector alliances and academia need to balance the emerging imperative to drive Blue Growth with the development of systems and models that ensure that can be done sustainably. 

Our ability to achieve this will therefore depend on the effectiveness of individual and global efforts to:

  • Protect and preserve ocean life

  • Promote and pioneer the Blue Economy, in order to add value and attract additional investment that is economically and environmentally sustainable

Technology and innovation will without question play a pivotal role in supporting these aims in the coming century, and NLA International Ltd has been established to provide new strategic insight and operational energy to catalyse new and much needed targeted action in this realm.

“The ocean economy is essential to the future welfare and prosperity of humankind... However, the maritime industry is poised to undergo a profound transition [as] new activites are emerging that are reshaping and diversifying maritime industries””
— OECD (2016), 'The Ocean Economy in 2030', OECD Publishing, Paris
 

If you are just beginning to explore opportunities that are opening up within the Blue Economy and are looking for more information, the OECD article, The Ocean Economy in 2030, is an excellent place to start.

It gives a great insight into the sheer scale and value of the ocean economy and it's importance to the future of the global economy and the preservation of the environment.

Click here to access the full article.

Featured
Sailing towards new horizons
Sustainable Arctic Tourism II
Protecting the silent protector – before it’s too late
Protecting the silent protector – before it’s too late

The plight of the planet’s coral reefs have been thrust once again into the spotlight in recent days. The most eye-catching headlines were also, sadly, the grimmest. A new report from the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) stated that nature is declining at rates not previously witnessed in human history, with plenty of concerning emphasis on the world’s seas and oceans. Launched in Paris, the report was compiled over three years by 450 experts, and draws from over 15,000 scientific and government sources. The authors pulled no punches in asserting that ‘transformative changes’ are required in order to protect and preserve various parts of the natural world.
Aquasense Research
Sustainable Arctic Tourism

Tourism is arguably the most accessible theme across the blue economy spectrum.  Perhaps it’s almost too obvious when considered against deep ocean exploration, mineral extraction, fishing in the open ocean and a host of other themes and industries that seem somehow more mysterious and commercial but marine and coastal tourism accounts for 26% of the blue economy, making it the joint second largest ocean industry. Only the oil and gas sector is considered to have higher economic value in the ocean domain.

International Women's Day

March the 8th is International Women’s Day, this year promoting the theme ‘balance is better’ recognising the importance of gender balance.

We reviewed news and highlights from across the marine and maritime sectors to see how gender is being considered by organisations working in the seas and oceans.

Tuvalu - telling their story their way

We were inspired to share this story that came to us via the good people at GLISPA - The Global Island Partnership - an organisation that promotes action to build resilient and sustainable island communities.

During the summer of 2019, a group of nine Loyola students and alums will travel to Tuvalu, an island country in the Pacific Ocean with a population of less than 11,000 people – the fourth smallest country in the world. Tuvalu has suffered from the effects of climate change perhaps more than any country on the planet and, with ocean levels rising, faces the possibility of extinction. The team will travel to Tuvalu to facilitate sharing the story of Tuvalu as told by the island’s youth. 
NLA-led consortium to tackle vulnerabilities in maritime position, navigation and timing

NLA International Ltd is proud to announce the start of a new project funded by the European Space Agency’s ’s NAVISP programme. 

MarRINav (Maritime Resilience and Integrity of Navigation) will explore vulnerabilities in position, navigation and timing (PNT) solutions.  Both the 2017 Blackett report and 2018 London Economics report highlighted the risks associated with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), and the operations that depend on it.  In the marine space these vulnerabilities are significant.  Factors such as space weather, jamming and ‘spoofing’ – being misled by false signals – can cause ships to appear on charts at inaccurate locations.  MarRINav will consider these risks and explore how other PNT solutions can complement GNSS to provide the mariner with greater resilience and confidence in what is now recognised as a critical national infrastructure.

Deep-sea autonomous vessels boost the search for missing Argentinian submarine ARA San Juan
Deep-sea autonomous vessels boost the search for missing Argentinian submarine ARA San Juan

It is great news that M/V Seabed Constructor commenced the latest search for the lost Argentine submarine ARA SAN JUAN in the South Atlantic Ocean some 300 nautical miles east of Commodoro Rivadavia on Monday last week.

Safety in the fishing industry - can technology save lives?
Safety in the fishing industry - can technology save lives?

Recent events in India have brought into sharp focus the urgent need for better communication systems between seafarers and land-based services, especially in times of distress. Cyclone Ockhi at the end of 2017 caused havoc in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, taking hundreds of lives. In particular, many fisherfolk were completely cut off from rescue services, rendering assistance nigh-on impossible. Unsurprisingly, the response from the community was impassioned.