Tides of tension: Exploring the blue economy through stakeholder narrations

The Blue Economy concept combines the views of oceans and seas as areas of economic growth, industrialization, and development, on the one hand, and as vulnerable marine ecosystems that need to be protected, on the other hand. Drawing on a concept driven by managerial practice in ocean-related industries, national and transnational institutions, and policymakers, this study applies abductive reasoning to explore the tension between these priorities and contribute to a holistic understanding of the Blue Economy. First, we establish the Blue Economy as a transitory research context in studies across multiple disciplines. Second, we describe it using three lenses from interdisciplinary literature: place, development, and sustainability. Third, we ground the Blue Economy in reality, using narrations around these lenses that we extract from data collected during four online workshops with diverse stakeholders. The narrations show how stakeholders deal with the conundrum arising from issues around ownership and control (place), the economic needs of countries and communities (development), and the quest for resilient ecosystems (sustainability). Finally, applying grid-group analysis to evaluate the narrations lays bare stakeholders’ antagonistic perspectives. We discuss techno-solutionism, localism, and transnationalism as at least temporarily acceptable responses to competing priorities that embrace the interplay between place, development, and sustainability and may inspire recommendations for policymakers. • The Blue Economy sees oceans as both economic assets and fragile marine ecosystems. • Corporate and state-led actors create and control ocean places. • Narrations highlight the tension between development and sustainability. • Grid-group analysis reveals antagonism and divides in priorities and actions. • “Clumsy solutions” can balance local, regional, and global tensions.