Blue Economy for Sustainable Development in Bangladesh: Empirical Insights, Sectoral Contributions, and Policy Pathways

Abstract

The blue economy has gained prominence as a development paradigm that integrates economic growth with the sustainable use of ocean and coastal resources. For Bangladesh, a lower–middle-income coastal country with a vast maritime jurisdiction in the Bay of Bengal, the blue economy represents both an opportunity and a necessity for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water). Unlike much of the existing literature that remains largely conceptual, this article draws on secondary quantitative data, sectoral statistics, and documented indicators to empirically assess the contribution of the blue economy to Bangladesh’s economy. Using gross value added (GVA), employment shares, export earnings, and sectoral composition data, the study analyzes fisheries and aquaculture, maritime trade and shipping, tourism, energy, and emerging marine industries. The findings show that the marine economy contributes approximately 3.3% of national GVA, supports millions of livelihoods, and underpins nearly 90% of external trade, yet remains constrained by governance fragmentation, technological gaps, and climate vulnerability. The article argues that evidence-based policy, integrated marine spatial planning, and ecosystem-based management are essential to transform Bangladesh’s blue economy into a driver of sustainable and inclusive development.