Advancing the Blue Economy in Sri Lanka: A Systematic Review on Maritime Sector Development

The concept of blue economy has emerged as a vital factor that contributes to the maritime sector and economic growth of island nations like Sri Lanka that vastly depends on the maritime industry, which supports employment, trade, fishing, and tourism. However, due to environmental degradation, insufficient infrastructure, and poor governance, Sri Lanka has not fully benefited from its blue economy despite its potential. Existing literature on the Sri Lankan blue economy and maritime industry has largely focused on certain factors like fishing and shipping, leaving a gap for a critical and comprehensive assessment of the overall growth, barriers, and drawbacks of the blue economy in Sri Lanka. The main purpose of this study is to examine the impact of the blue economy on the development of the maritime sector in Sri Lanka. The methodology used in this study is a systematic literature review conducted using Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest, and Google Scholar by using a sample of 60 articles published from 2000 – 2024 in this context. The inclusion criteria were the publication in English, the topic of the study was the blue economy or maritime sector in Sri Lanka, and it had to discuss the economic, environmental, social, or governance dimensions. The findings indicate that rich marine resources and aquaculture, the strategic location of the island, and government initiatives have driven Sri Lanka towards a blue economy. However, environmental degradation, limited infrastructure, climatic risks and socioeconomic factors have been identified as barriers to adopting the blue economy in Sri Lanka. According to the findings, the study presents the positive impacts, such as the growth of fisheries and aquaculture, the development of marine tourism, the promotion of renewable energy, and the empowerment of coastal communities. Despite the significance of the blue economy, this study also illustrates the drawbacks of blue economy frameworks, such as economic disparities, conflicting ideas with locals, overexploitation of marine resources and coastal pollution. Moreover, by offering evidence-based insights and policy recommendations for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and scholars, this study contributes to the broader discourse on sustainable maritime development.