Author : Raffaello Cervigni
Publisher : Directions in Development
ISBN 13 : 9781464812248
Total Pages : 288 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (122 download)
Book Synopsis The Ocean Economy in Mauritius by : Raffaello Cervigni
Download or read book The Ocean Economy in Mauritius written by Raffaello Cervigni and published by Directions in Development. This book was released on 2018-04-06 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The book assesses the overall potential of the Ocean Economy (OE) to contribute to Mauritius' development, identifies key sectoral and cross-cutting challenges to be overcome in order to seize that potential, and evaluates ways to ensure the OE's longer-term sustainability. In particular, tt addresses environmental and climate change concerns. Based on a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model analysis of the country developed in partnership with the Government of Mauritius, the book finds that doubling the GDP share of the OE (the 'O2' strategy) is possible, even though achieving such a target is likely to take to at least 15 years. Over the next 10 years, with investments on the order of US$580 million per year, the O2 strategy can yield many positive results in terms of sustainable and inclusive growth. The book assesses opportunities and constraints for OE development from the individual perspective of four sectors, representing the OE's established sectors (fisheries, ports), as well as the emerging ones (marine energy and marine information and communications technology). Sustainable development requires considerable investment in natural resource management, since any OE expansion is likely to entail larger pressure on the environment, including pollution of water and coastlines; and higher exposure to the risks posed by current climate variability and future change. In this respect, Mauritius has recently initiated a Marine Spatial Planning process as a key instrument to reconcile multiple ecological, economic, and social objectives in the use of coastal and ocean resources. Climate change is being increasingly recognized as a threat to the development potential of the OE in Mauritius. The country has made important progress on the understanding of impacts; it has also made progress on practical adaptation responses. The current OE governance system, based on a dedicated ministry and a consultative body (the National Ocean Council), has been instrumental in promoting the OE agenda over the last few years. To fully turn the OE's potential into reality, there is a need to strengthen it, both in terms of technical capacity and in terms of decision-making mechanisms.