Centre for Blue Governance
We're committed to the protection, restoration and sustainable governance of aquatic environments
Aquatic environments cover more than 70% of our planet's surface, and the value of the global oceans is estimated to be US$24 trillion.
Our international community of inter-disciplinary researchers are working to tackle challenges impacting aquatic systems worldwide. These include the climate, pollution, and biodiversity crises, and the safeguarding of human health and wellbeing.
We are committed to research that supports evidence-driven policy and decision-making, and better governance of our aquatic environments for the common good. New holistic solutions are urgently needed.
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Our mission
The Centre for Blue Governance (CBG) aims to promote sustainable aquatic resource management through research, policy development, social and environmental justice, and education. We provide inter-disciplinary expertise to create and implement blue growth strategies in countries and political entities around the world. We also strive to expand blue economic perspectives by encompassing marine and freshwater systems and conceptualising them as development spaces.
The CBG tackles current research themes as well as elaborating on and supplementing established ideas. Our work encompasses numerous sub-topics within five central themes.
Explore our themes below.
What is blue governance?
The blue economy is an economic term relating to the sustainable exploitation of marine and freshwater resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs, and overall aquatic ecosystem health.
Blue governance is an emerging concept which integrates Blue Economy and Blue Growth with the governance principle. Governance refers to structures and processes which ensure accountability, transparency, responsiveness, rule of law, stability, equity and inclusiveness, empowerment, and broad-based participation.
Blue Governance therefore relates to the public and private institutional mechanisms (such as institutional coordination, private-public partnerships and institutional arrangements) required to implement Blue Economy and Blue Growth initiatives, strategies and policies.
UNESCO Chair in Ocean Governance
A UNESCO Chair is a team led by a higher education or research institution that partners with UNESCO on a project to advance knowledge and practice in an area of common priority. The UNESCO Chair in Ocean Governance is led by the Centre for Blue Governance, University of Portsmouth, to develop around the domain of Ocean and inland waters governance (Blue Governance) that is transdisciplinary by nature and includes disciplines such as economics, management, law, policy, ecology, marine biology, geography, transport logistics and information science.
Professor Pierre Failler was appointed as the Chairholder of the UNESCO Chair in Ocean Governance in December 2021. A set of areas relating to education (PhD programme and visiting fellowship), the natural and social sciences, culture and communication, started to develop since then.
Follow us on X @UNESCOChair_OG
Research projects
MaCoBios
Marine SABRES
GREPPAO
Gentoo Collaboration
BlueGreen Governance
Native Oyster Restoration
Competitive Angling as a Scientific Tool
Affiliated research centres and groups
UNESCO Chair in Ocean Governance
The UNESCO Chair in Ocean Governance develops around the domain of Ocean and inland waters governance (Blue Governance) that is transdisciplinary by nature.
Institute of Marine Sciences
Explore the marine ecosystems of the Solent European Marine Site at our shoreside marine station, complete with floating research platform, £2 million aquarium and laboratory suite, and 2 research vessels, RV Calypso and RV Noctiluca.
Revolution Plastics Institute
From combatting microplastics to analysing plastic policies around the globe, we’re putting our research into practice, working with local groups, organisations, businesses and individuals to solve the planet's plastic problem.
Publication highlights
2024
Journeys of change towards the blue economy: evaluating process in transformational change
Evans, T. R., Failler, P., Fletcher, S., March, A. L. A., Potts, J.
27 Nov 2024, In: Regional Environmental Change . 24, 15p., 170
Multi-generational dispersal and dynamic patch occupancy reveals spatial and temporal stability of seascapes
Bilton, D. T., Clubley, C. H., Firth, L. B., Knights, A. M., O'Dea, E., Silva, T. A. M., Wood, L. E.
20 Nov 2024, In: Science of the Total Environment. 952, 14p., 175762
Filtration behaviour of Ostrea edulis: diurnal rhythmicity influenced by light cycles, body size and water temperature
Fabra, M., Helmer, L., Morrall, Z., Preston, J., Watson, G.
15 Nov 2024, In: Estuaries and Coasts. 48, 20p., 18
Trace element contamination biomonitoring: A comparative study between the polychaetes Alitta virens and Hediste diversicolor
Gobert, S., Lepoint, G., Richir, J., Sturaro, N., Watson, G. J., White, S.
20 Oct 2024, In: Environmental Pollution. 363, 10p., 125116
Insights into PFAS contaminants before and after sewage discharges into a marine protected harbour
Ford, A. T., Ginley, F.
17 Oct 2024, In: Chemosphere. 366, 7p., 143526
Latest news and blogs
News
View allStudy explores how fear impacts the financial health of the airline industry
New Study Reveals Urgent Need for "Blue Justice" in the Emerging Blue Economy
New Study reveals solutions to help boost Caribbean fisheries and aquaculture
Using the power of citizen science to make the Solent’s fishing industry more sustainable
University teams up with Hampshire sailor to help protect the world’s oceans
Blogs
View allWest Africa’s plastic waste could be fuelling the economy instead of polluting the ocean: experts
How marine fisheries can add millions of tonnes to Africa’s catch
Can biodegradable nets tackle unsustainable fishing?
Tackling our plastics problem with big tech and big thinking
Upcoming events
Io Capitano - A special screening
The Centre for Blue Governance and No.6 Cinema are proud to announce the screening of the award-winning film Io Capitano, directed by Matteo Garrone, which explores the theme of migration and the plight of migrants on their perilous journey across Africa to reach European shores.
Thursday 28 November at 7pm at No.6 Cinema, Portsmouth (Bar from 6pm).
Tickets available: HERE
To introduce the central theme of migration, identities and cinematic journeys, the screening will be preceded by a short presentation by the CBG Labour and Human Rights Theme Leads, namely Professor Dr Leïla Choukroune (Professor of International Law and Director of the Centre for Global Justice and Rights) and Dr Sophie Quintin (Maritime security expert).
Recent events and seminars
BlueGreen Governance: Evolutionary perspectives on coastal governance
Chaired by UoP CBG Theme Lead Dr Gianluca Ferraro, with keynote speakers Professor Raoul Beunen (Open Universiteit, the Netherlands) and Professor Kristof Van Assche (University of Alberta), this BlueGreen Governance webinar introduced 'Evolutionary Governance Theory' and developing strategies for sustainability transitions in coastal governance.
Took place: Tuesday, April 30., 3.30-4.30pm GMT, online
"Deep Rising": Free screening hosted by the Centre for Blue Governance
During #GreenWeek2024 at the UoP, the Centre for Blue Governance was delighted to host a free screening of "Deep Rising", a film by Matthieu Rytz, and narrated by Jason Momoa.
This visually stunning film took our viewers inside the companies and technologies seeking to mine the ocean floor, and exposed the inner workings of the international organisation that is writing the rules for seabed mining, scrutinizing the case for and against that exploitation while exploring innovative solutions to both combat climate change and conserve the deep ocean.
It was lovely to see a fantastic turn-out of UoP staff and students at our CBG social event, and it has certainly sparked some interesting follow-on conversations. Check out our April newsletter for more info!!
Took place: Wednesday, April 24., 4.00-6.00pm GMT, Buckingham Building, Lecture Theatre 1.01
Centre management
For more details on the work of the Centre, please contact Helen Currie by emailing helen.currie@port.ac.uk or calling +44 (0)2392 844184
Research themes
Sub-topics
- Ocean and Water Governance
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Marine and freshwater policies
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Maritime security
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Spatial planning
Theme lead: Dr Gianluca Ferraro
Deputy: Dr Tegan Evans
Sub-topics
- Seafarers’ rights and well being
- Ship breaking industry and sites
- Fisheries and labour
- Blue tourism and labour
- Blue economy human rights and labour rights awareness
- Blue economy modern slavery survivors access to remedy
Theme lead: Prof. Leila Choukroune
Deputy: Dr Sophie Quintin
Sub-topics
- Fisheries management
- Fishing by-catch of birds, turtles and mammals
- Aquaculture development
- Habitat conservation and restoration
Theme lead: Dr Ben Drakeford
Deputy: Andy Forse
Sub-topics
- Marine renewables energies
- Logistics and safety
- Shipping
- Port management
- Oil spill prevention
- Biofouling and anti-fouling
- Off-shore technologies
Theme lead: Dr Negar Akbari
Deputy: Open chair
Sub-topics
- Marine and coastal ecosystem functioning
- Ecosystem carbon sequestration and storage
- Ecosystem resilience
- Marine debris litter and plastics
- Biodegradation and bioprospection
- Marine and coastal ecosystem service valuation
Theme lead: Prof. Joanne Preston
Deputy: Open chair
Our PhD students
Study with us
The Blue Review
Our regular newsletter, the Blue Review, provides an update of CBG activities, recent publications, and project updates. It also includes a wealth of opportunities such as events to attend, courses, job opportunities and conferences.
Contact us
Reach out to us, or follow us on social media
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Email us at CBG@port.ac.uk
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Follow us on X @blue_centre
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Follow us on LinkedIn