Showcasing the potential of the BLUEMED initiative to stimulate investments, economic growth and jobs Perspectives of the BLUEMED initiative in a new EU Member State Ivica Vilibić, Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries Split, Croatia

CROATIA Accession to EU: 1 July 2013 Population: 4.3 million Area (land): km 2 Area (sea): km islands (49 inhabitated) Very large percentage of sea in the territory Enormous natural and cultural heritage Almost all aspects of BlueMed SRIA relevant BlueMed SRIA is a waymark for future

BLUEMED SRIA Key Enabling Knowledge from a perspective of an EU newcomer is of utmost importance for keeping Adriatic Sea healthy, productive, resilient, known and valued !!!  National stategies and Implementation plans (Smart Specialisation, Sustainable Tourism, Fisheries, Aquaculture, Innovation Stategy,...)  Understanding the ecosystem, sustainable exploitation, reducing hazard risks, adaptation to climate changes

 Strategies are incorporating all boundary conditions, like overfishing, climate changes,...  Going down to local (counties, cities, municipalities)  ICZMs, Development Plans, Spatial Plans,... Sibenik-Knin County

 An example: Exploitation of underwater resources - pro or contra, a hot issue in the Adriatic Sea, and not only here  BlueMed SRIA Action: “Develop and implement management plans for sustainable exploitation of coastal to deep-sea biotic and abiotic resources, including gas hydrates...”  Without sufficient knowledge on ocean dynamics, potential spill trajectories, chemical interactions,..., no reliable management plan can be created !!!

What leads to another BLUEMED SRIA Key Challange: Enabling Technology and Capacity relevant for keeping the Adriatic/Mediterranean Sea healthy, resilient, known and valued !!!  BlueMed SRIA Challange: “Observing systems and operational oceanography capacities in the Mediterranean”  A prerequisite for reaching a number of national BlueMed goals

 Observing systems and operational oceanography capacities in the Mediterranean should be based on new technologies and adopted to problem-oriented issues  BlueMed SRIA Goal: “Tailor-made sensors and platforms”

 For marine hazards occurring over minutes (e.g. tsunamis) to years (e.g. erosion)  BlueMed SRIA Action: “Develop new technologies and systems to enable spatial and temporal resolution and observation parameters to be improved in the coastal region (using both in situ and remote tools)”

 Safety at sea – emerging issue nowadays !!! Also for Croatia, for a sustainable tourism, cargo and passanger traffic, refugees,...  BlueMed SRIA Action: “Develop Unmanned Autonomous Vehicles and related infrastructure that can extend the area - on the sea surface and underwater - for different types of operation, e.g. monitoring illegal activities, supporting search and rescue activities, helping the Civil Protection service respond to disasters, supporting offshore economic activities.”

 Croatia is an eldorado of cultural heritage !!!  An opportunity for blue jobs and growth (together with sustainable tourism) !!!  BlueMed SRIA Goal: “Increase the economic impact of the Mediterranean’s cultural heritage.” Split Dubrovnik Šibenik Poreč Trogir

The presented scanning of BlueMed SRIA Goals and Actions through Croatian curent position are just a piece of actions enabling a new EU member state to boost its blue growth !!!

Key messages:  The BlueMed SRIA is a framework for blue growth of the whole Mediterranean region, as integrating research priorities and provides an added value to national research activities  an opportunity which any EU newcomer country (Croatia or whoever in the future) do benefit and MUST incorporate in national strategies and legislative