Harnessing Oceanic Assets for Sustainable Growth and Climate-Responsive Maritime Development

Mauritius: Blue Horizons, Sustainable Futures.

By Neekhil Bhowoniah | World Bank Financial Sector Expert for Mauritius and Seychelles | United Nations FAO Accreditation Expert for the Green Climate Fund Readiness for Mauritius

Mauritius is casting its maritime advantage into economic gold, with its vast 2.3 million km² Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) serving as the backbone of a burgeoning blue economy that contributes around 10 to 12 % of national GDP (OECD ocean economy FAO Fisheries, 2026), or some USD 1.4 billion annually, – which is poised for even greater impact. With projections estimating up to 32,000 new jobs by 2030 (World Bank CCDR, 2026) from climate resilient blue growth initiatives, Mauritius is navigating a macro‑economic transformation that diversifies its traditionally service-led economy while building resilience against global shocks. Though Mauritius’ NDC 3.0 sets out comprehensive climate and ocean‑related goals, including strengthening climate‑smart fisheries and coastal resilience, formal plans have yet to translate into clearly financed, monitored, or operational programmes, leaving many commitments at the planning stage. 

This leads us to ask; if our oceans hold untold wealth, why remain idle? The answer is simple: it demands a redesign guided by strategic vision, coordinated action, and sustainable outcomes. Fragmented policies, underinvestment in infrastructure, and climate vulnerabilities have historically left much of this wealth dormant.

A System in Theory, A Fragment in Practice

In 1977, Michel Foucault sat down for an interview titled ‘The Confession of the Flesh‘ and provided what has become the gold-standard definition of the “dispositif”. Often translated as ‘apparatus,’ Foucault described it as a complex web of everything from architectural forms to scientific data, all working together to manage a particular social or political crisis. Why does it matter? Well it is at this intersection, where systems should converge, that Mauritius falls short of a fully realised blue economy dispositif.

Framed through a Foucauldian lens, Mauritius’ blue economy should not merely be viewed as a sectoral policy agenda, but rather a dispositif – a system of relations linking governance structures, various economic actors, regulatory frameworks, and technological infrastructures that shape how ocean resources are accessed, managed, and economically leveraged.

Mauritius can no longer keep papering over the cracks with more blue economy policies. It now requires cutting through the noise, joining the dots, and getting all its ocean sectors rowing in the same direction. The pieces are there – but the relation coherence is weak. 

Australia’s Oceans Policy: A Blueprint for Blue Economy Integration

Australia’s Oceans Policy (1998) was an early national attempt to break down sectoral silos and embed integrated, ecosystem‑based ocean governance across fisheries, ports, and environmental protection – thereby setting out ambitious governance architecture and regional marine planning processes to coordinate across sectors and jurisdictions (DCCEEW, 2003). How?

1. Ecosystem-based management – By moving beyond sectoral silos, the policy ensures fisheries, ports, tourism, and energy projects are coordinated to maximize economic output without degrading marine ecosystems, which is a core principle of the blue economy.
2. Spatial planning – The policy introduced marine bioregional planning, which maps ocean spaces for sustainable use, balancing economic activities with conservation. This enables strategic clustering of economic activities – like ports, aquaculture, and offshore energy.
3. Legal and institutional coherence – The dispositif-style integration of laws, regulations, and institutions helps create a predictable and stable environment for investment, allowing industries like fisheries, shipping, and marine renewable energy to grow sustainably.
4. Protected areas as economic assets – By setting up Marine Protected Areas covering around 45% of Australian waters, the policy protects ecosystem services (fish stocks, carbon sinks, tourism value), ensuring long-term productivity.

From Definition to Deployment

The Foucauldian Dispositif Approach serves as a strategic playbook for Mauritius, offering more than a simple to-do list – it maps out how the country may get all hands on deck to steer its blue economy towards coherence and resilience. Connecting its 3 pillars: (i) ontology, (ii) governance, and (iii) spatial effects, it highlights not just what is fragmented, but how dispersed efforts may be orchestrated into a unified, climate-smart maritime strategy. This approach intends to redefine the ocean from a passive stock into a living, socio-ecological system, guides policymakers to cut through red tape and coordinate across ministries, and identifies where strategic clustering can turn proximity into productivity. 

Power, Practice, and Space: A Foucauldian Dispositif Approach to the Blue Economy

In short, the concept of “dispositif” in blue economy shows Mauritius how to navigate its waters wisely, ensuring that every policy, investment, and spatial decision pulls in the same direction and strengthens the island’s marine ecosystem resilience. Proximity turns into productivity, creating ripple effects that bolster marine ecosystem resilience. It’s worth noting that “dispositif” is not a policy per se – rather a way of seeing and organizing the relational architecture of the Blue Economy