The Blue Economy as Sustainability Pathway for Coastal Regions: The Case of Baja California Sur, Mexico

Abstract

This article presents the new development model, the blue economy, established after the Rio+20 summit by small island states, highlighting its importance for the sustainability of developing regions located in coastal areas and small islands. The generalities of the model are presented and we explore the current elements that sporadically occur in a coastal state: Baja California Sur, Mexico, through two of the main features of the blue economy: aquaculture and alternative tourism. The findings suggest that fostering the blue economy model through public policies and using the ocean as the main source for development strengthens sustainability and enhances the population’s well-being.