ABSTRACT
The blue economy works as a policy tool or sustainable marine economic development model that drives economic growth and creates jobs. Human civilization is indebted to the oceans from decade to decade since they are a vital source of food, energy, and minerals. Oceans act as primary media upon which global trade (for example, seaborne international trade) takes place. Being an ocean-based country, Bangladesh has immense potential to be an advanced country by the year 2041. Sustainable use of blue economic development must be ensured to achieve developed status. Lack of strong marine policy, weak ocean governance, and unsustainable use (for example, IUU fishing, marine pollution, haphazard tourism, and unplanned coastal development) can be a huge risk factors for the effective execution of the blue economy. Blue economic development should be in an eco-friendly way and a special focus must be on the conservation of the marine ecosystem. A blue economy roadmap is necessary to provide a comprehensive strategy for ocean-based sustainable development that brings together the economy, environment, and society, closely linked to the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The shift to a blue economy will require profound and structural changes in the regulatory-management-governance policy process using the ecosystem-based Marine Spatial Planning method. For sustainable blue development, strong ocean policy and ocean governance must be ensured.
