Blue‐Prints for Ocean Governance: Analyzing Resource Sustainability in International Blue Economic Frameworks

Championed as a pathway for sustainable growth, the “blue economy” (BE) has garnered increasing interest in recent decades. International organizations like the World Bank and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) increasingly point to marine resources and activities as a “new frontier” for economic growth. International blue economy frameworks (IBEFs) have thus commanded growing interest from practitioners and academics alike. While these frameworks often cite sustainability as a guiding principle, the extent to which they practically enable marine resource sustainability remains contested. Drawing on a systematic review of existing literature, this study highlights key themes—fragmented governance, economic exploitation, (geo)political instrumentalization and environmental justice concerns—and points out significant methodological shortcomings that mark existing scholarship. It also finds that prevailing blue economy agendas are imbued with neoclassical economic assumptions centered around resource decoupling and the growth imperative. The study concludes that without robust empirical testing, rigorous methodological foundations and engagement with de‐growth and post‐growth schools of thought, dominant blue economy frameworks can promote misguided policies that are likely to lead to the unsustainable use of ocean resources.