Inclusive initiatives and robust regional cooperation among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are vital to securing a sustainable blue economy, delegates heard on Monday at the opening of the 4th ASEAN Blue Economy Forum in Manila. The hybrid event runs through Tuesday and serves as a high-level regional platform to advance policy dialogue on the 2026-2030 ASEAN Blue Economy Implementation Plan, a roadmap positioning oceans, seas, and freshwater resources as engines of inclusive and sustainable growth. As this year’s rotating chair of ASEAN, the Philippines additionally leads the ASEAN Coordinating Task Force on Blue Economy.
“We must ensure that the blue economy remains fundamentally about people,” Philippine Trade Undersecretary Allan Gepty said at the opening of the forum. Gepty noted that coastal communities must benefit directly from new economic opportunities, meaning any innovation has to reach the populations that need it most.
Prioritizing People and Effective Multilateralism
According to United Nations special envoy on water and former Indonesian foreign minister Retno Marsudi, the blue economy agenda is “more than an economic agenda, it is a demonstration of what effective multilateralism can deliver for people, prosperity, and planet.” Marsudi stressed that inclusion cannot mean simply consulting communities after policies are already drafted. Instead, local populations must participate actively in designing and executing policies while enjoying the ultimate benefits. The interests of the people “should always be the priority,” she added.
Echoing these concerns, Zhang Nianshan, director general at the Southeast Asia Department of the Asian Development Bank, stated that while the blue economy sustains millions of livelihoods, supports food security, and preserves cultural identities across ASEAN, its natural assets face severe pressures from climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and other disasters.
Did You Know? Over 80 percent of regional fishers operate in small-scale informal fisheries, highlighting the heavy reliance of coastal populations on informal marine economies across Southeast Asia.
Transitioning From Shared Vision to Coordinated Action
Zhang noted that the 2026-2030 implementation plan marks an important transition from a shared regional vision to coordinated action. To accelerate this shift, he argued that the region must first build a strong pipeline of sustainable and bankable blue economy projects alongside practical, resource-oriented regional cooperation and integration.
Furthermore, Zhang emphasized that success cannot be measured solely by mobilized investments or constructed infrastructure. It must also be evaluated through more resilient coastal communities, better access to finance and markets for micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises, and decent job opportunities for women and young people.
Protecting Vulnerable Livelihoods and Small-Scale Fishers
Aimee Gonzales, executive director of the Manila-headquartered Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia, cautioned that any blue economy strategy that drives up national gross economic output while displacing local fisherfolk fails basic sustainability benchmarks. “Macro indicators mean nothing to a coastal community if their local waters are depleted and their lands are inundated by sea level rise,” Gonzales said.
Gonzales underscored the necessity of protecting and formalizing livelihoods because more than 80 percent of regional fishers operate within small-scale informal fisheries. Targeted microfinance, leadership programs, and legal protections can serve to empower women who face systemic exclusion from financial access and leadership roles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary purpose of the 4th ASEAN Blue Economy Forum?
The hybrid event serves as a high-level regional platform to advance policy dialogue on the 2026-2030 ASEAN Blue Economy Implementation Plan, which positions oceans, seas, and freshwater resources as engines of inclusive and sustainable growth.
Who currently holds the rotating chair of ASEAN?
Holding this year’s rotating leadership of ASEAN, the Philippines also functions as the head of the ASEAN Coordinating Task Force on Blue Economy.
Why are small-scale fisheries highlighted in the regional discussions?
Over 80 percent of regional fishers operate in small-scale informal fisheries, and experts note that protecting and formalizing their livelihoods is essential for ensuring that economic growth benefits local coastal communities rather than displacing them.
What steps do you think regional governments should prioritize first to protect small-scale coastal fisherfolk?
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