Today is World Water Day, highlighting what water means to different people. Specifically, how water is important to your home, family, livelihood, cultural practices, and to businesses.
“On World Water Day, the Surrey Board of Trade asks the Federal Government in coordination with the Provincial and Territorial Governments, to enact enabling policies that support the Blue Economy and create a Blue Investments working group that would focus on creating new investment opportunities,” said Anita Huberman, CEO, Surrey Board of Trade.
Canada has the longest coastline in the world and the fourth largest ocean territory. Its lakes and rivers make up a fifth of the world’s surface freshwater. These natural, aquatic resources are the backbone of many Canadian communities and provincial territories.
Some ideas for a Blue Economy Ecosystem:
1. Establish a Canadian accelerator program. Showcase and celebrate small-scale examples of success. These could include shoreline restoration projects as well as sea grass restoration programs.
2. Nationwide leadership by promoting ocean literacy.
3. Incorporate oceans into municipal bonds focused on the impacts of climate change (e.g., shorelines and large-scale infrastructure), and to connect marine ecosystem services to related initiatives (e.g., Municipal Natural Assets Initiative).
4. Prioritize further investment to convene key nations interested in ocean restoration, ocean-based research and development, and studying the impacts of tidal energy generation on fish and sea life.
5. Provide support for bi-lateral or multi-lateral projects and international agreements on preserving the ocean and important habitats (sea grass, kelp beds, coastal areas, and sustainable environment for marine life).
6. Create ocean innovation accelerators.
POLICY LINK: https://businessinsurrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/BLUE-ECONOMY.pdf
ABOUT WORLD WATER DAY: https://www.worldwaterday.org/
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BLUE ECONOMY CONSULTATION DEADLINE: June 15, 2021: https://dfo-mpo.gc.ca/about-notre-sujet/blue-economy-economie-bleue/engagement-paper-document-mobilisation/part1-eng.html
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