Brazil advances Blue Economy initiatives in Macaé and Maranhão

Brazilian municipalities and industrial federations are advancing initiatives to develop the Blue Economy. In Macaé, the city presented strategies at Rio Innovation Week focused on economic diversification and coastal governance. Macaé is the first Brazilian city to begin the ‘Selo Azul Cidades Costeiras’ certification process, aiming to integrate environmental preservation with economic growth across its 23 kilometers of coastline. Key focus areas include sustainable fishing, nautical tourism, and the offshore market, including support for artisanal fishers.

In Maranhão, the Federation of Industries of the State of Maranhão (FIEMA) has partnered with the Aleixo Belov Foundation to conduct a strategic diagnostic of the state's maritime economy. This mapping project aims to identify economic potential and bottlenecks in sectors such as maritime transport, port operations, aquaculture, shipbuilding, and offshore energy. The study will leverage Maranhão's strategic location and the São Luís Port Complex to guide future public policies and investments.