Delivering Blue Economy and Nature Recovery in Coastal Communities – A Diverse Economies Perspective

The blue economy aims to bring prosperity to coastal communities whilst also pro-tecting natural ocean resources for future generations. But how can this vision be put into practice, especially in communities in which dependancy on natural resources is high and food and livelihood security are key concerns? This paper examines two cases of community-led nature based enterprise in Kenya in a search for solutions to this challenge. I use a ‘diverse economies’ perspective to delve into the heterogeneous relations at work and in search of insights that can be applied in multiple contexts. The analysis reveals a complex assemblage of institutions, knowledges, technologies and practices within which enterprises operate. Whilst the enterprises featured are still relatively new and developing, they suggest a direction of travel for a community-led sustainable blue economy which both supports and benefits from nature recovery. The insights gained from this diverse economies analysis lead us to appreciate a sustainable blue economy as a rediscovered and reinvigorated relationship of reci-procity between society and nature. One that nurtures place-based nature-based livelihoods and nature recovery, together, and which embodies a set of values and ethics shared by government, communities, and business.