The Value of Rhode Island’s Blue Economy March 2020 A report by Jennifer McCann, Sam Poli, Sue Kennedy, Erin O’Neill, Don Robadue and Dawn Kotowicz Edited by Monica Allard Cox Coastal Resources Center and Rhode Island Sea Grant College Program Graduate School of Oceanography University of Rhode Island Narragansett, Rhode Island Rhode Island The Value of Rhode Island’s Blue Economy A report by Jennifer McCann, Sam Poli, Sue Kennedy, Erin O’Neill, Don Robadue and Dawn Kotowicz Edited by Monica Allard-Cox March 2020 Contents Introduction . I-2 By the Numbers . I-5 Sectors of the Blue Economy . II-1 Defense . II-1 Marine Trades . .II-7 Ports and Shipping . II-13 Tourism and Recreation . II-20 Fisheries . II-27 Aquaculture . II-32 Offshore Renewable Energy . II-36 Enhancers . III-1 Quality of Place . III-2 Workforce . III-4 Innovation . III-7 Resiliency . III-10 The Blue Economy Network . IV-1 Networks in Action—A Case Study . V-1 Strategies and Actions: 2020–2025 . VI-1 Appendix: Glossary . a-1 Appendix: Sources . a-2 Acknowledgements . .a-6 Coastal Resources Center and Rhode Island Sea Grant College Program Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island Narragansett, Rhode Island The Value of Rhode Island’s Blue Economy, March 2020 Introduction It’s easy to see how important and embedded Rhode Island’s because the perspectives of the industry leaders demonstrate coastal and ocean natural and man-made resources and a value equal to if not greater than the economic value . In infrastructure are to the people of this state . From high-tech addition, to enhance the legitimacy and the uniqueness of the defense spurring innovation, to world-class marine trades and work, instead of applying a uniformed approach for describing composites contributing to the state’s reputation as the sailing each sector, different formats have been used . Defense capital of the world, to internationally respected oceano- therefore reads differently than tourism, for example (see graphic research and strategic military educational institutions more data in the Technical Report) . A description of the four tackling complex issues and training future leaders to solve “enhancers”—components that increase or improve in value local and global challenges, Rhode Island makes significant the quality, desirability, or sustainability of the blue economy contributions to the blue economy here, nationally, and around as a whole—follow these sector descriptions as they serve the world . In fact, about 6-9%1 of Rhode Islanders work within as the foundational platform upon which the sectors thrive . the state’s ocean economy,2 a sector with a direct impact of A blue economy network analysis illustrates the connections more than $5 billion 3. among the blue economy sectors and how innovation can be nurtured . This report then offers strategies and actions for how Rhode Island’s contributions to and successes in the blue Rhode Island can best respond to global and local opportuni- economy are achieved due to long-term investments by ties while encouraging appropriate growth within the state . government, industry, academic and research institutions, and communities . Crucial to this investment, however, are One of the more important findings of this report is that most multiple local “enhancers” critical to ongoing growth, including who were interviewed indicated that there is a clear recognition our state’s high quality of place and commitment to proactive that moving forward, efforts to enhance the blue economy must planning and management, ensuring the protection of public honor the state’s unique maritime character and mix of marine- access and working waterfronts as well as the well-being of based assets, and cultivate strategic, cross-sector innovations our coastal and ocean resources . that multiply benefits across industries. In addition, the foun- dation of Rhode Island’s blue economy requires the protection In 2018 the Coastal Resources Center and Rhode Island Sea and wise management of coastal and ocean resources both Grant at the University of Rhode Island (URI) were tasked with within and alongside Narragansett Bay, the Salt Ponds, Block defining Rhode Island’s blue economy and identifying strate- Island and Rhode Island Sounds, and the Atlantic Ocean . gies to nurture and grow this important sector . With support from the URI Graduate School of Oceanography (GSO) and This report recommends five strategies: Rhode Island Sea Grant, the research team interviewed more than 60 Rhode Island blue economy participants, attended Strategy 1 — Intensify and expand collaborative and hosted blue economy-related events, and learned how leadership. other communities, states, and nations promote their maritime Establish systems jointly led by government, industry, and resources. They also analyzed what it is that significantly academia to engender a sense of shared responsibility contributes to the innovation, enhancement, and evolution of and encourage cross-sector creative and marketable the blue economy . solutions that respond to both local and global blue Although there are many interpretations of the term “blue economy issues . economy,” this report defines the blue economy as the eco­ nomic sectors with a direct or indirect link to Rhode Island’s Strategy 2 — Design policies and implement initiatives coasts and ocean—defense, marine trades, tourism and for Rhode Island’s coasts and oceans that meet recreation, fisheries, aquaculture, ports and shipping, and economic and social needs while doing no harm to the offshore renewable energy . Also included are higher education natural ecosystem. and research institutions, marine-focused advocacy and civic Continue implementing plans and actions that consider groups, and government agencies that contribute to building a the sustainable use and wise management of economic strong blue economy workforce, invest in sustainable growth and recreational activities that result in a healthy coastal and innovation, and plan for the protection of our coasts and and ocean natural ecosystem . Prudent regulatory over- oceans . sight to maintain the state’s balance between economic This report describes the different blue economy sectors growth and conservation, and private development and using both economic information and perspectives from sector public good—particularly in a time of increased sea level leaders . We share these two distinct information sources rise and storms—must remain a priority . 1 The 6% is author’s calculation based on non-federal data. The 9% figure is from NOAA ENOW data. 2 Only 3% of Massachusetts, Connecticut, California and Texas residents work within their state’s blue economy according to NOAA ENOW data. 3 See the By the Numbers section for a more detailed explanation. I-2 UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND GRADUATE SCHOOL OF OCEANOGRAPHY Introduction Strategy 3 — Utilize pressing issues facing Rhode opportunities to develop the required skills and talent to Island and Southern New England as opportunities meet growing industry demand, and continue contributing to leverage the region’s technical and governance to the diversity and agility of the state’s blue economy . innovation capacity and approaches. Increased coordination between all workforce and education skill building programs is needed to minimize Rhode Island’s public and private sectors should strategi- redundancy and allow this in-demand workforce to cally invest in encouraging innovation, acceleration, and respond to multiple sector needs at once . At the same application of creative solutions to respond to natural and time, workforce wages and benefits are necessary to human-made issues, such as increased sea level rise, provide an adequate quality of life . severe storms and related flooding, ocean and coastal pollution, resource­user conflicts, and food security. Strategy 5 — Continually engage and inform a broad Industry clusters should be enhanced and prioritized for constituency for stewarding our ocean resources and financial and technological opportunities that serve as meeting the blue economy’s education, training, and effective strategies to bolster the economy . infrastructure needs. Strategy 4 — Prepare and integrate a diverse and Ensure Rhode Islanders have increased pride, owner- increasingly capable cross-sector workforce to foster a ship, understanding, and participation in the sustainable growing and integrated blue economy. management and health of the state’s blue economy . Offer opportunities for Rhode Islanders to “experience” Rhode Island should expand its existing workforce and tour different infrastructure within the sectors so development model to respond to industry needs . The they have better understanding of the value and the blue economy workforce requires additional options, interconnectedness . like certificate and increased­paid internship programs, professional master’s degrees, and continued learning Moving Forward By 2030, the world’s blue economy could outperform overall for its excellence in deep-water oceanographic research, global economic growth as a whole in terms of value add and coastal planning and management, sustainable fisheries and employment . This may appear surprising; however, the ocean monitoring, and its training of future leaders . Results from economy’s contribution to national gross domestic product this expertise and leadership have positioned Rhode Island (GDP) in 2012 grew by 10 .5%, growth four times higher than as a leader in offshore renewable energy and led to 17,000