- cirececo2
- May 28
- 4 min read
As the world rethinks its relationship with nature, it’s increasingly clear that healthy ecosystems are essential for our survival and provide everything from food and water to energy and livelihoods. The ocean covers three-quarters of the Earth’s surface, holds 97% of the planet’s water, and makes up 99% of the living space by volume, making it essential to all life on Earth. Yet today, marine ecosystems are under severe pressure due to overfishing, plastic pollution, rising sea temperatures, and unchecked coastal development.
As we mark the International Day for Biological Diversity on May 22, it’s a timely reminder of the vital role oceans play in regulating the climate, supporting biodiversity, and sustaining economies. This year’s theme, “Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development” emphasizes how global efforts to protect biodiversity are deeply interconnected with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Advancing both agendas in tandem is essential, as they reinforce one another in building a healthier, more resilient planet. In fact, the ocean contributes $2.5 trillion annually to the global economy through sectors such as fisheries, tourism, shipping, and renewable energy. For Saudi businesses, particularly those involved in coastal development, logistics, aquaculture, and tourism, the business case for protecting marine ecosystems has never been stronger.
Blue Economy and Ocean Stewardship in Saudi Arabia
According to the UN Environment Programme, around 11 million metric tons of plastic enter our oceans each year, a figure that could triple in the next twenty years without urgent action, reaching between 23 and 37 million metric tons annually by 2040[1]. Among all pollutants, plastic poses the greatest threat to ocean health. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted in December 2022, set ambitious global goals to reverse biodiversity loss, including restoring 20% of degraded ecosystems by 2030[2]. This renewed global commitment reinforces the urgency of marine protection and positions ocean sustainability as a business priority.
Saudi Arabia, with its extensive Red Sea and Arabian Gulf coastlines, holds vast potential in the blue economy. The Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and initiatives like the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) recognize the importance of marine protection and sustainable coastal development. Through the Red Sea Global (RSG) project and NEOM’s sustainable coastal designs, marine conservation is being integrated into tourism, infrastructure, and urban planning.
RSG, for instance, is working to achieve a 30% net conservation benefit across its 28,000 square kilometers project area by 2040, using marine spatial planning, coral reef restoration, and mangrove afforestation. This not only preserves biodiversity but enhances the long-term viability of tourism and coastal enterprises[3].
Aquaculture Initiatives under Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030
As part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has introduced five groundbreaking initiatives in the aquaculture sector. These initiatives are aligned with the goals of the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP), recently launched by HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince. The aim is to boost national production, strengthen the local economy, and enhance food security.
1. Public Awareness and Promotion Campaign: The first initiative, titled "Marketing Campaign", focuses on educating the public about the nutritional benefits of locally farmed fish compared to imported varieties. It also aims to increase the average fish consumption in the Kingdom from 9 kg to 13 kg per person annually, promoting healthier diets and supporting local producers.
2. Campaign to Attract Investors: The second initiative, "Investor Attraction Campaign", seeks to stimulate investment in the aquaculture industry by drawing both local and international investors. This initiative will help meet growing demand, enhance domestic production, increase exports, reduce reliance on imports, and lower production costs within the sector.
3. Development of Coastal and Marine Clusters: The third initiative, "Development of Marine Clusters", is designed to establish essential infrastructure along coastal areas, including fish landing sites, floating docks, ice factories, fueling stations, and boat maintenance facilities. This initiative also aims to provide integrated logistics services and create attractive destinations for tourism.
4. Building Essential Infrastructure for Aquaculture: The fourth initiative, "Infrastructure Development to Support Aquaculture", aims to build hatcheries, feed production facilities, and processing plants to support the goal of producing 600,000 tons of fish annually by 2030. This will also help ensure industry sustainability, generate job opportunities, attract foreign investments, and reduce dependency on imported inputs.
5. Advancing Research and Development: The fifth initiative, "Support for Research and Development", aims to enhance the efficiency and productivity of the aquaculture sector through collaboration with renowned national and international research institutions. Key goals include introducing economically viable fish species, improving feed systems, reducing disease risks, promoting fish health, and establishing expert research centers to facilitate modern technological advancements in aquaculture.
According to the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA), Saudi Arabia is also investing in sustainable aquaculture and aims to increase fish production to 600,000 tons annually by 2030, providing food security while reducing pressure on wild fish stocks. The aquaculture sector is important and has a large growth potential, with a capacity of 5 million tons of fish, due to the strategic location of the kingdom from the coastline (2600 km)[4].
[4]https://www.mewa.gov.sa/en/Ministry/Agencies/AgencyofAgriculture/Topics/Pages/Topic-28-1-2019.aspx
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