Just as land needs to be policed and regulated to prevent misuse oceans today also require an equal if not greater greater attention to avert abuse. These roles are traditionally assigned to the Navy of Nations and para-military Maritime Forces.
It is well understood that no one nation can sustainably address the myriad issues of a Blue Economy as its temporal and spatial dimensions overflow to various direct and indirect sectors. The investments are huge and stakes are equally high. Therefore, a security architecture that is wired and shared is a necessity for a stable, safe, secure and sustainable ocean ecosystem that builds the Blue Economy of nations.
Therefore, there is a strong business case for a collaborative investment in various surveillance and response systems ranging from equatorial orbit satellite system, Long Range Identification and Tracking systems and widespread application of Automated Identification Systems for Dark Vessel tracking and recognition, supported with Big DATA and artificial intelligence. At the state level White Shipping Agreements and generation of data fused common operational pictures shared amongst the relevant security and intelligence agencies would require the combined resources and strengths of nations working together for a common sustainable, safe, secure and stable future.
There is no better than time now than now to gather our thoughts collectively to chart the way forward for the sustainable maritime future we need.
