Concept: 2020 was slated to be the year of the oceans, appropriately acknowledging a decade that will increasingly see states attempting to create value from maritime resources. Already, the oceans feed nearly half the world’s population and add USD 3 trillion to the economy every year. Shipping carries 90 per cent of world trade and is the most energy efficient mode of transportation. Worldwide, ocean linked industries also create up to 31 million full time jobs. However, a range of human behavior continues to exacerbate damage to maritime environments, communities, and actors.

Many coastal areas suffer from climate change and are under threat from pollution, as well as the over-harvesting of marine resources. Beyond the environmental imperatives, it is essential for the international community to commit to and agenda that prioritizes social inclusion and economic prosperity for all. Un-regulated economic growth continues to lead to increasing inequality, elite capture, abuse of workers’ rights, and the marginalisation of local communities. As ocean-based activities are an important workspace, creating jobs and opportunities in a diverse array of sectors such as shipping, tourism, cruises, fisheries, and renewable energy, more attention is needed to ensure decent work, living wages, and responsible production and consumption practices. Indeed, the blue economy has acquired importance in realizing almost each of the 17 sustainable development goals. As the oceans increasingly command international attention, it is imperative for scholars to examine the blue economy in the light of the SDGs. There is a need to not only raise public awareness but to also mobilize a cross sectoral community from government, business, civil society, and international organizations to fast track research in this domain.

Responding to these realities, this 1-day closed online workshop, organized by the DWIH New Delhi and the German Maritime Museum, aims to bring together researchers from India and from Germany to engage them in an interdisciplinary discussion on what will undoubtably be the decade of the oceans.

Objectives: The intention of the workshop is to identify and prioritize short-term and long-term issues and corresponding areas of research on the following themes. It is also intended to discuss, discover and amplify good practices, methods and tools for science communication. Members of the workshop will produce a future research blueprint, including one brief flagship joint report. The themes that will animate the workshop are:

1. Exploring labour standards in the blue economy: This track will debate labour standards and welfare schemes of industries dependent on the oceans, such as fisheries, shipping, cruises, and coastal tourism. It will explore how transnational arrangements, stronger human rights regimes, supported by complementary governance frameworks can be promoted in enabling sustainable employment linked to the maritime industry.

2. Building a ‘community first’ approach to the blue economy: This track will explore how coastal communities can be given a concrete stake in the sustainable management of the ocean’s resources. As global exploitations and inequalities increase, this theme will look at how local jobs can be secured to improve coastal livelihoods. Furthermore, communities that are vulnerable to climate change are often the most innovative and effective in adapting to it. Hence, his track will focus on studying grass-roots efforts that respond to climate change, amplify successfully local adaptation initiatives and provide a platform for job creation.

3. Gender and the blue economy: This session will focus on how to guarantee better equity and participation for women in the blue economy and all ocean-related activities including research, management and policymaking. For example, while women play a pivotal role in fisheries, they are often found in the lowest social position. This track will examine how local policies, skilling and literacy initiatives, empowerment through technology and digital connectivity can catalyze women participation in the workforce and women led enterprises.

Participants: Researchers (PhD preferred) with an interest in the topic of blue economy and sustainable livelihood from India and Germany. Participants would be selected from disciplines covering natural sciences, social sciences and humanities.

Application: Please send an email with interest of participation to info@dwih-newdelhi.org and fill in your details on this link https://www.daad.de/surveys/783277

Application deadline: 08.08.2020