From Ambiguity to Action: A Framework for Assessing Ocean-based Projects in Canada's Blue Economy

Lawrence M Mak^1*Marie-Chantal Ross^1*Ronnie Noonan-Birch^2*Gerald Gurinder Singh³Andrés M. Cisneros-Montemayor⁴

• ¹National Research Council Canada (NRC), Ottawa, Canada
• ²Pisces Research Project Management Inc., Halfax, Nova Scotia, Canada
• ³University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
• ⁴Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

Canada's Blue Economy could benefit from an operational, equity-first definition that incorporates an environmentally inclusive framework. Current project assessments follow a neoliberal approach which prioritizes economic viability and leaves social equity and ecological concerns as secondary or tertiary. This Policy and Practice Review proposes an approach to Blue Economy activities by introducing the Blue Economy Development Approach (BEDA) - a structured methodology and decision sequence (Equity → Health → Wealth) to guide decisions. By making consent and equity a gate, pairing Indigenous and local knowledge with scientific indicators for ecosystem health, and verifying benefit-sharing before economic metrics, BEDA offers a clear, workable and inclusive path for Canada. To address the identified gaps, BEDA integrates diverse perspectives and cross-cutting linkages (e.g. the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs) and functions as a systematic project-evaluation tool for municipal, provincial, and federal governance. Examples of potential applications show how principles translate to action, ensuring equitable local access to ecosystems; guiding provincial sustainable use of marine resources; and informing a comprehensive national Blue Economy strategy. Taken together, these contributions support Canada's transition toward a sustainable Blue Economy, aligning national strategies with international commitments to equity, sustainability, and resilience.