Navigating the Blue Bioeconomy: Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Coastal Aquaculture
Have you ever wondered how coastal aquaculture can drive innovation, create business opportunities, and open new careers?
Duration
4 weeksWeekly study
4 hoursLanguages
English, EspañolEnglish, Español100% online
How it worksDigital upgrade
Free
Navigating the Blue Bioeconomy: Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Coastal Aquaculture
This course has been certified by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to continuing professional development principles. Find out more.
Dive into coastal aquaculture and discover blue bioeconomy entrepreneurship
Coastal aquaculture is evolving fast, offering solutions to global food security, sustainability, and marine innovation challenges.
In this four-week course, you will dive into coastal aquaculture practices, technologies, and many more related topics that drive the blue bioeconomy.
Explore sustainable business models using algae and other marine resources
Discover how algae and other marine resources are used in agriculture, food, textiles, and animal feed, and how commercialisation reshapes traditional supply chains.
By analysing blue business models and successful algae applications, you gain knowledge on how to develop market-driven solutions using marine-based products and learn to build scalable ventures in this fast-growing sector.
Understand investment, compliance, and innovation in aquaculture
Delve into funding routes, legal frameworks, and compliance strategies that support sustainable growth and explore how regulatory systems and intellectual property are key in scaling businesses.
Explore how policy agendas, emerging technologies, and labour market trends influence aquaculture and marine innovation roles.
Connect with the future of marine-based careers
Investigate tools that drive innovation and careers. Identify blue bioeconomy carreer opportunities that align with your goals. Explore the skill set needed for future-focused, environmentally sound marine entrepreneurship and shape your path in the blue bioeconomy.
We hope these insights and confidence will support you in taking the next step in your professional journey.
Syllabus
Week 1
Introduction to coastal aquaculture
Getting started
This activity introduces the course structure, team, and navigation. You'll explore key articles, introduce yourself to fellow learners and learn how to engage with the content effectively for a smoother learning experience.
Introduction to coastal aquaculture
This activity introduces coastal aquaculture, covering farming practices, sustainable strategies, and regulations in the European Union, with a focus on fish farming, shellfish aquaculture, & seaweed cultivation in the Baltic Sea.
From ocean resources to blue growth: Markets, investment, and industry trends
This activity explores the transition from ocean resources to blue growth, focusing on markets, investment, & industry trends in sectors like fisheries, aquaculture, & the European algae industry, with a special focus on seaweed.
Spotlight macroalgae: Farming, wild harvest, and environmental impact
This activity explores the journey from ocean resources to blue growth, focusing on markets, investment, & industry trends in fisheries, aquaculture, & the European algae industry, with a focus on seaweed innovations.
Awareness, innovation and business cases
This activity focuses on awareness, innovation, & business cases in the blue economy, exploring marine ecosystem services, business models, & networking. Topics include ports as innovation catalysts, seaweed biorefineries.
Week 2
Business models, applications and technologies in the blue bioeconomy
Algae in the food industry
This activity showcases the potential of macroalgae in the food industry.
Bivalves and algae as animal feed
This activity showcases the potential of macroalgae and bivalves for the feed market.
Algae application in agriculture
This activity showcases the potential of algae as biostimulants.
Algae for the clothing and textile industry
This activity showcases the potential of algae for sustainable textile production.
Innovations in blue bioeconomy technologies: From aquaculture to sustainable processing
This activity will explore the technologies used in coastal aquaculture and processing.
Week 3
Upscaling, funding, data & IPR in the Blue Bioeconomy
Snapshot: Blue economy market data & regulatory framework for macroalgae
This activity examines the pathways from a startup to a successful business, including support mechanisms and opportunities.
Business support and guidance
This activity highlights resources and initiatives for blue economy businesses, focusing on testing, data, and networks like the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) and youth and business support for the European algae sector.
Navigating funding, investment, and economic models for sustainable business growth
This activity highlights funding types, support initiatives, investment strategies, and insights into future economic models. It examines how businesses can navigate these areas to drive sustainable growth and innovation.
Data management and intellectual property
This activity explores the importance of data management, security and Intellectual Property (IP) for businesses in coastal aquaculture entrepreneurship.
Week 4
Driving innovation and leadership in the Blue Bioeconomy
The role of skilled labour in advancing the blue economy
This activity highlights the importance of skilled labour in the blue economy and its role in sustainable development across marine conservation, aquaculture, and offshore energy.
Fostering entrepreneurship and innovation in the blue economy
This activity highlights the role of entrepreneurship and innovation, focusing on marine biotechnology, aquaculture, and sustainable energy, with an emphasis on seaweed entrepreneurship and the skills needed in the sector.
Navigating career opportunities and pathways in coastal and marine sectors
This activity introduces you to the career pathways available in the coastal and marine sectors, highlighting the skills and education required to pursue opportunities in the blue economy.
Who is this accredited by?
The CPD Certification Service was established in 1996 and is the leading independent CPD accreditation institution operating across industry sectors to complement the CPD policies of professional and academic bodies.
When would you like to start?
Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.
Available now
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- assess the potential of coastal aquaculture and marine biomass-based products in contributing to blue bioeconomy growth.
- develop innovative business models for coastal aquaculture ventures by exploring case studies and analysing industry trends.
- explain the environmental, economic, and regulatory challenges and opportunities in coastal aquaculture and their impact on entrepreneurial ventures.
- apply business skills such as market analysis and strategic planning to create scalable and sustainable coastal aquaculture businesses.
- evaluate different financing options, investment strategies and legal frameworks to promote sustainable growth and innovation in the coastal aquaculture sector.
Who is the course for?
This course is ideal for entrepreneurs, students, researchers, and professionals interested in land-based aquaculture, algae innovation, and sustainable business development in the blue bioeconomy.
Who will you learn with?
I have a background in marine biology and earth science and have worked broadly with water management, monitoring and innovation. Now I manage blue economy projects at SUBMARINER.
I am the founder of Umoyalife & project manager for Blue Economy initiatives with a background in sustainable business management and environmental economics. The ocean is my beloved paradise.
I hold a PhD in sustainability and am passionate about driving awareness for a greener future. At SUBMARINER, I am doing the communications for EU-funded projects focusing on blue bioeconomy.
Who developed the course?
SUBMARINER Network for Blue Growth
The SUBMARINER Network is the cooperation platform for actors and initiatives across the Baltic Sea Region and beyond. Promoting innovative approaches for the sustainable use of marine resources.
Blue Bio Techpreneurs
The EU co-funded Blue Bio Techpreneurs project aims to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and skill development in the blue bioeconomy.
Cool Blue Future
COOL BLUE, short for “Community Ocean Farms and Local Business Clusters”, is a 3-year Horizon CA (Coordination & Support Action) with the overall objective of developing local community-driven business models for regenerative aquaculture.
Seamark and Baltic MUPPETS
SeaMark is a four-year Horizon-funded project that will demonstrate how to scale up innovative seaweed cultivation and processing into price-competitive product applications. Baltic MUPPETS is an I3 project that will develop new uses for small mussels from the Baltic Sea and side streams from cultivation and production.
What's included?
SUBMARINER Network for Blue Growth are offering everyone who joins this course a free digital upgrade, so that you can experience the full benefits of studying online for free. This means that you get:
Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn
Do you know someone who'd love this course? Tell them about it...
More courses you might like
Learners who joined this course have also enjoyed these courses.
Browse more in Business & Management and Politics & Society
