Impacts of the shipbuilding industry on the ecosystem services and the challenges for a sustainable blue economy: Case study of a coastal ecosystem in the Eastern Mediterranean

Abstract

Blue Economy includes all economic activities that take place in the ocean, sea and coastal areas. Despite their importance and continuous growth, the blue economy activities have serious impacts on the marine and coastal environment. A sustainable blue economy preserves social cohesion, promotes environmental protection and produces economic growth. Shipbuilding is one of the main blue economy sectors, covering the construction of the cargo, passenger, military and research fleet and its maintenance. The shipbuilding sector is important for the EU economy, in terms of economic development, employment and support of the supply chain. The last years, the shipbuilding and repair industry of Greece is reborn, with a respected number of shipyards to increase their activities. The shipbuilding activities belong to the so called “heavy” industries, creating significant environmental pressures to the coastal ecosystem, that affect a series of ecosystem services. Case study of this research is the Gulf of Elefsis, a vulnerable ecosystem facing the impacts of the industrial activities of shipbuilding and repair, and the environmental problems that occur. The present study is an attempt to spot the ecosystem services that are threatened by the shipbuilding industry and to propose the appropriate measures and responses to face the existing pressures.