ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Mar. Sci.
Sec. Marine Affairs and Policy
Volume 12 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fmars.2025.1618637
This article is part of the Research TopicThe Grey Side of Blue Bioeconomy: Assessing Unreported Transactions and Financial Drainage in Blue Bioeconomy SectorsView all articles
Stakeholder Participation and Crisis-Responsive Strategies in the Mediterranean Blue Bioeconomy-Insights from Lebanon under Co-Evolve4BG Project
Provisionally accepted
- 1Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
- 2Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon
- 3Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer (Tunisia), Tunis, Tunisia
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This study investigates the long-term impacts of health emergenciesspecifically the COVID-19 pandemic-on Mediterranean coastal tourism, with a focus on the Batroun pilot site in Lebanon. Using participatory methods, including stakeholder workshops and SWOT analyses, we assess systemic vulnerabilities across marine, urban, and recreational tourism sectors, and examine the role of inclusive governance in building resilience. The findings reveal critical weaknesses in pollution management and infrastructure, alongside opportunities for circular economy innovations and digital transformation. The Co-Evolve4BG Toolkit proved effective in benchmarking sustainability and codeveloping locally grounded action plans. Based on these insights, we recommend the adoption of standardized health protocols, diversified tourism models, and stronger regional coordination. This work offers a transferable framework for aligning ecological preservation with crisis-responsive tourism development across Mediterranean coastal regions.
Keywords: blue bioeconomy, COVID-19, ecosystem services, Mediterranean tourism, participatory governance, stakeholder participation, Sustainable coastal development, SWOT Analysis
Received: 26 Apr 2025; Accepted: 14 Jul 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 msayleb, Mallah Boustani, Abidib, Athiman and Bejaoui. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Nada Mallah Boustani, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon
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