15 Jan Empowering local coastal communities through knowledge-transfer workshops on the Sustainable Blue Economy
The four “Sustainable Blue Economy Centres” established by UMT and USM in Malaysia and UI and ITS in Indonesia, organized a series of workshops to empower local fishermen, aquaculture operators and small-scale entrepreneurs by introducing them to Sustainable Blue Economy, its benefits and opportunities and the sustainable use of marine resources.
More than 690 participants actively attended the workshops held in various regions across Malaysia and Indonesia. The design of the workshops took into account local conditions, needs and challenges, creating fertile ground for academics, industry stakeholders and coastal communities to exchange knowledge, experiences, and perspectives. The sessions introduced the core principles of the Sustainable Blue Economy, incorporating all the 8R-Nature-centric Blue Economy philosophy elements. The outcomes were more than positive and promising:
- Raised awareness, improved understanding and effective knowledge transfer on the Sustainable Blue Economy.
- Identification of local challenges and opportunities, improved socioeconomic prospects and valuable community input.
- Creation of social value through strengthened collaboration between academia, local communities and stakeholders
- Practical suggestions for continued collaboration.
All the above confirm the crucial role of the “Sustainable Blue Economy Centres” as hubs for knowledge transfer, innovation, and inclusive community engagement.
