Ethics, Values and Social License in the Blue Economy

As industries move further offshore the Blue Economy can deliver many benefits. But ethical concerns about its operations can threaten its social licence to operate. To ensure their legitimacy, Blue Economy industries need to consider, prioritise and implement the values justifying their operations to the communities in which they operate.

Helping fill this need, and in collaboration with other CRC projects, this project will produce a world-first account of the ethical values at stake in the Blue Economy. It will provide key outputs that help industry partners inform funders, Boards and communities to secure the social licence to operate in new environments.

From aquaculture to offshore wind farms, marine industries offer enormous opportunities for Australia – but they also pose ethical challenges.

This month, the Ethics, Values and Social License project team, led by researchers from Griffith University’s Institute for Ethics, Governance and Law have released three additional short reports designed to help industry and government strengthen ethical practices in ‘Blue Economy’ operations.

The reports explain why concepts like the ‘social licence to operate’ have become important, provide guidance on navigating key ethical risks, and stress the importance of transparency and independence in achieving community acceptance.

Webinar: Ethics & Social Licence in the Blue Economy

Tuesday 24th October, 2023