Blue Economy

Why Cooley

Cooley recognizes that the health of the world’s oceans and the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are critical to the prosperity of present and future generations. 

Our oceans are our most important natural asset. They provide 70% of the air that we breathe and absorb 90% of global carbon emissions. They are the primary source of protein for more than 1 billion people. They contribute $1.5 trillion to economic output annually, and more than 31 million jobs depend on our oceans.

The “blue economy” is a core element of a new paradigm in ocean management. We see the potential of the blue economy to protect the health of our oceans by fostering innovation, driving investment in emerging industries that could help transform economies throughout the world and addressing many of the challenges facing humankind in the years ahead.

At Cooley, we are well-positioned to draw on the strengths of our extensive practice areas to provide growth-oriented legal advice to a range of companies and organizations on the blue economy.

We advise governments and private clients on the full spectrum of the blue economy, from the delimitation of maritime zones and boundaries to established ocean-based industries, such as offshore energy, shipping, maritime transport and fisheries.

We are also looking to the future, advising on emerging ocean-based industries, including new forms of offshore renewable energy, carbon capture and storage, deep seabed minerals, bioprospecting, and the harvesting of living marine and genetic resources for use in industrial, medical and food production.

Areas of practice

• Aquaculture
• Bioprospecting
• Deep seabed mining
• Fisheries
• Living marine and genetic resources
• Marine pollution
• Maritime boundaries
• Maritime transport
• Medical and food production
• Offshore renewable energy
• Satellites
• Space
• Submarine cables