12 Marine and maritime sustainable (Blue)
growth
(34262)
13908/12
COM(12) 494
| Commission Communication: Blue Growth opportunities for marine and maritime sustainable growth
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Legal base |
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Document originated | 13 September 2012
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Deposited in Parliament | 21 September 2012
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Department | Business, Innovation & Skills
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Basis of consideration | EM of 30 October 2012
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Previous Committee Report | None, but see footnotes
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Discussion in Council | See para 12.4 below
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Committee's assessment | Politically important
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Committee's decision | Cleared
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Background
12.1 According to the Commission, if account is taken of all activities
which depend upon the sea, the EU "Blue economy" represents
5.4 million jobs with a gross added value of just under 500
billion a year, in areas such as tourism, offshore oil and gas,
offshore wind, shipping, fisheries and aquaculture, blue biotechnology,
marine mining, and coastal protection. It says that, because they
are outward looking, ports and coastal communities have traditionally
been centres for innovation, and it also points out that three
new factors opening up a significant opportunity for blue growth
have recently come into play technological developments
which allow offshore work in ever deeper waters; the need to explore
how the ocean and seas can play a role in meeting challenges relating
to food and energy supply; and, in the light of the need to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions, a growing focus on off-shore wind and
wave energy, and on seaborne transport as a greener alternative
to land transport.
The current document
12.2 The Commission says that the purpose of this Communication
is to drive forward the Integrated Maritime Policy (IMP) and to
launch a process which will place the blue economy firmly on the
agenda. In particular, it describes how Member States are already
supporting the blue economy, and sets out the measures which the
EU has taken to reinforce these (see Annex). It then identifies
the following specific areas where it believes that targeted action
could provide and additional stimulus:
Blue Energy
The Commission argues that maritime energy has the potential to
minimise the land use requirements of the energy sector and reduce
greenhouse gas emissions. It notes the contribution already made
by offshore wind power, and calls for EU measures, including funding,
to provide a framework that will give investors confidence to
invest in other new offshore technologies such as tidal barrage,
wave power devices and ocean thermal energy conversion.
Aquaculture
The Commission notes the rapid growth of aquaculture in recent
years, but argues that more needs to be done to promote it and
to increase competition. It says that, as part of the reforms
to the Common Fisheries Policy, it will therefore put in place
an 'open method of coordination', based on non-binding strategic
guidelines, multi-annual national strategic plans, and the exchange
of best practice.
Maritime, coastal and cruise tourism
The Communication notes that the tourism sub-sector has now become
the largest single maritime economic activity, employing 2.35
million people, but stresses the fundamental contribution of such
factors as high quality bathing waters and the protection of coastal
and marine habitats. It recognises that, because of the sheer
variety of circumstances, initiatives to generate growth will
largely be local or regional, but suggests that EU level coordination
can help to support this.
Marine mineral resources
The Communication notes that European companies could be well
placed to take advantage of the potential increase in the demand
for minerals extracted from the seafloor, and that EU support
could ensure that they are not squeezed out of the value chain
by state-supported competitors. It suggests that such support
could include pilot action within the framework of the proposed
European Innovation Partnership on Raw Materials,[26]
and by an EU research effort addressing the main technological
challenges.
Blue biotechnology
The Commission argues that the blue biotechnology sector will
emerge as a niche market focused on high value products for the
health, cosmetic and industrial bio-materials sector. It calls
for a strategic approach to research and innovation to support
this development, and a European approach to raise awareness among
policy makers, the private sector and the general public.
The Government's view
12.3 In his Explanatory Memorandum of 30 October 2012, the Minister
of State for Universities and Science at the Department for Business,
Innovation & Skills (David Willetts) says that:
Blue Energy
The UK largely supports and agrees with this part
of the Communication, and is working with other Member States
and the Commission to build a strong marine and ocean energy industry
within the EU, taking a forward role in this area. However, increased
renewable energy in the UK and other parts of the EU is due not
only to EU incentives, which have complemented as well as facilitated
a range of national measures.
The Government sees offshore wind as the most established
form of renewable blue energy, but regards wave and tidal stream
technologies as rather more advanced than the Communication implies,
being on the verge of commercialisation. It also notes that efforts
are being made to reduce the costs of marine energy, with the
UK Offshore Wind Cost Reduction Task Force having concluded that
a cost reduction of over 30% was possible by 2020, provided its
key recommendations are implemented.
The Communication rightly highlights the importance
of infrastructure development for marine energy, and the UK, with
other northern EU Member States, Norway and the Commission, is
part of the North Seas Countries Offshore Grid Initiative, which
works together on developing offshore renewables generation and
infrastructure in the North, Irish and Baltic Seas, and on finding
ways to address the various regulatory, technical and other barriers
in the most cost-effective way.
The Department for Energy and Climate Change, with
the Health & Safety Executive, is working to ensure that the
UK's own high environmental and safety standards are not adversely
affected by the proposed EU legislation on offshore hydrocarbons
drilling.
As the Commission has noted, the local sourcing of
marine energy helps to reduce the need for imports, thereby improving
European energy security.
Aquaculture
The Government shares the Commission's view that
aquaculture provides significant potential for growth and jobs,
but believes that such growth must be market-driven, sustainable
and not come at a cost to the environment. Therefore, whilst the
UK welcomes efforts to promote sustainable growth in aquaculture,
these must be applied to an industry which is competitive and
can operate in international markets, and the Government does
not wish to see food production supported by public subsidy if
the industry is unable to survive without such support.
Marine spatial planning
The Government recognises fully the benefits of seeking
to ensure sustainable development of the marine environment, of
helping to provide transparency and confidence for investment,
and of setting a direction for marine management decisions, leading
to efficient use of marine resources in a way which integrates
economic, environmental and social objectives. The UK has the
necessary domestic legislation and policy framework in place,
and is actively implementing marine spatial planning.
Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) is primarily
a process facilitating delivery by people or groups working together,
and which enables coastal areas and the issues they face to be
managed in a sustainable way. The Government believes strongly
that ICZM cannot be achieved through any binding measure, and
thus considers that the Commission should take forward only those
actions that add the most value, and which are realistic, proportionate
and cost-effective. The UK has also made clear that any EU-wide
initiatives or measures must both supplement and complement those
already in place, and not undermine the progress which Member
States have already made in this area.
Marine, coastal and cruise tourism
The Government shares the Commission's view that
maritime, coastal and cruise tourism can be a valuable contributor
to economic growth, and looks forward to seeing its impact assessment
on the development of this sector.
It says that the seaside remains a vital asset for
the UK's visitor economy, accounting for around 20% of domestic
overnight visits and 25% of overnight spend, and adds that the
Government's tourism strategy includes a strong and clear commitment
to increasing the value of the domestic tourism market. Coastal
destinations and attractions will be of critical importance in
achieving this goal, with national tourism boards giving significant
coverage to them.
Marine mineral resources
There are no direct policy implications arising from
the section on marine mineral resources, but the Government looks
forward to proposals from the Commission on how European industry
can increase its competitiveness in extracting minerals from the
sea floor, and welcomes the commitment it has made to produce
an Impact Assessment. The UK will work to ensure proposals are
consistent with the need for open and competitive markets.
Blue biotechnology
The UK recognises the potential of the blue biotechnology
sector to stimulate long-term growth and jobs in the blue economy,
whilst safeguarding its unique marine environment for future generations,
and will continue working with industry and other stakeholders
to develop basic science and mechanisms to support translation
of science into sustainable and commercially viable opportunities
in this emerging sector.
The Government broadly welcomes the Horizon 2020
proposals, which the Commission has identified as the mechanism
through which Research, Development and Innovation (R&D&I)
into blue growth can be addressed. It supports the need for a
strategic approach to research and innovation and the importance
of removing technology bottlenecks as part of making investment
more attractive in general. However, it stresses that negotiations
on Horizon 2020 are ongoing, and that, until there is a complete
package including both the content and the budget, it cannot commit
to supporting all the areas of blue growth R&D&I identified
in the Communication through Horizon 2020.
12.4 The Minister notes that the Commission
intends to analyse the policy options under each of the five headline
areas identified in the Communication and to consider further
initiatives. These will include presenting a Communication on
ocean renewable energy in 2013; agreeing strategic guidelines
on aquaculture by 2013; presenting an impact assessment on the
development of maritime and coastal tourism in 2013; presenting
a Communication on extracting minerals from the seafloor in 2014;
and presenting a Communication on blue biotechnology in 2014.
Conclusion
12.5 Since this is a wide-ranging Communication,
covering an area of some economic and environmental significance,
we are drawing it to the attention of the House. However, the
Communication itself is essentially a resumé of action
which has been taken, is in progress, or is proposed, and we do
not think it gives rise to any issues which need to be considered
further at this stage, since an opportunity for more focussed
scrutiny will arise when the follow-up proposals envisaged by
the Commission are put forward over the next 18 months. We are
therefore clearing the document.
ANNEX
ON-GOING EU INITIATIVES
- Marine Knowledge 2020, which
provides an integrated knowledge infrastructure, based on national
data collection systems delivering data products at a European
level.
- A Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE)
for the surveillance of the EU maritime domain, which will allow
maritime authorities responsible for activities such as safe navigation
or fisheries control to share information on risks and threats.
- The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC),
which introduces an eco-system based approach, aiming at ensuring
that the pressure of human activities on the environment is kept
to level compatible with the achievement of good environmental
status by 2020.
- The European Maritime Transport space without
Barriers, which aims at simplifying administrative procedures
for maritime transport.
- The EU's programmes for marine and maritime research
and innovation, funded through the current framework programme,
and the future Horizon 2020 programme, which will (among other
things) target cross-thematic marine and maritime research.
- The LeaderSHIP 2015 initiative aimed at tackling
the new challenges facing the EU shipbuilding sector.
26 (33733) 7247/12: See HC 428-lvi (2010-12), chapter
4 (27 March 2012). Back
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