The Blue Economy, as defined by the World Bank, is the “sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and job creation while preserving the health of ocean ecosystems.”

The scale and importance of the Blue Economy are significant. It generates approximately $3 trillion in global GDP annually, comparable to the size of France, and supports the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Coastal communities and island nations depend on the ocean for economic development, food security, and long-term resilience. Protecting these ecosystems while advancing innovation is not only an environmental priority, but an economic imperative.

A healthy ocean benefits all sectors of society. Around the world, entrepreneurs and innovators are developing solutions and creating a growing set of investable opportunities across Blue Tech, aquaculture, offshore industries, renewable energy, and ocean data. According to the United Nations, the Blue Economy has expanded 2.5x since 1995, outpacing the growth of the broader global economy. Despite this, the Blue Economy remains underrepresented and not formally defined within capital markets.

Global ETF Advisors works to bridge this gap.

We were involved in the development of the UNC Wilmington Blue Economy Index, which tracks the largest publicly traded companies generating revenue from ocean-related activities in a sustainable manner. The index is published on Bloomberg under the ticker Blueeco. This index represents an important step toward defining, measuring, and bringing transparency to the Blue Economy within public markets.

Building on this foundation, our work focuses on connecting capital markets with real-world ocean innovation. We advise financial institutions, asset managers, and innovators on how to design, position, and scale investment strategies that reflect the evolving opportunities within the Blue Economy. This includes integrating credible data, aligning with emerging sectors, and supporting the development of investment products such as ETFs and index-based strategies.

We are committed to advancing the role of capital in supporting ocean health, economic resilience, and sustainable growth. By working at the intersection of finance and innovation, we help bring greater clarity, credibility, and investability to the Blue Economy.

We welcome the opportunity to discuss how Global ETF Advisors can support your organization in navigating and participating in this evolving market.

BLUE ECONOMY

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