Jumpstarting North Carolina’s blue economy: Opportunities in ecosystem technologies

Jessica Erin Wilkinson; Adams Bailey; Sara Lawrence

Jumpstarting North Carolina’s blue economy: Opportunities in ecosystem technologies

By Jessica Erin Wilkinson, Adams Bailey, Sara Lawrence.

September 2025 Open Access Peer Reviewed

DOI: 10.3768/rtipress.2025.pb.0031.2509

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Key Points

Impact statement: Coordinated investment in ecosystem technologies, smart regulation, and dynamic innovation can launch North Carolina to the forefront of sustainable aquaculture and coastal resilience, driving new jobs, propelling cutting-edge research, and boosting prosperity across the region.
Ecosystem technologies, or ecotech, is an emerging branch of applied science that combines what we know from living ecological systems with technological advances to create and enhance products and processes. Ecotech presents a growth opportunity for North Carolina through the integration of new technologies into established Blue Economy sectors.
North Carolina’s strengths in aquaculture and coastal resilience provide a strategic opportunity for economic growth. By supporting the adoption of advanced technologies, the state could develop into a leader in these industries.
In 2023, the US seafood trade deficit reached $20.3 billion, with imports accounting for approximately 80 percent of total seafood consumption. Expanding North Carolina’s aquaculture production could reduce import reliance and further diversify the state’s economy.

Abstract

North Carolina has an opportunity to be a leader in the Blue Economy through innovations in ecosystem technologies (ecotech). North Carolina can leverage existing public research and small business activity to develop its aquaculture and coastal resilience industries. While North Carolina has many the assets related to ecotech including public research and innovative small businesses, public leadership is needed to align research efforts and to adopt new technology solutions and apply them to practical challenges. To realize its potential in the Blue Economy, North Carolina can develop a long-term plan that aligns research efforts, modernizes regulations, and supports pilot studies to test ecotech applications.

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