Page 71: of Marine Technology Magazine (March 2017)

Cox

By Greg Trauthwein hile San Diego is a historical maritime “This was a lack of coordination between the country and hub, with enviable weather and direct the port district. When I (heard about it) I thought, ‘this is deepwater access to the Paci? c Ocean, the ridiculous,’” said Cox. “We got our country of? cials together growth of its “Blue Economy” needed a with the port district, and literally within two weeks we were single, seemingly simple push. A name. able to give them a temporary permit to open what is now a

W “I think a big part (of the growth and evolution in the Blue mainstay down at Tuna Harbor every Saturday morning until

Tech Economy) is that it has a name now,” said Supervisor the early afternoon, where you will have upwards of 1,000

Greg Cox. “Five years ago if you would have asked me what people coming down weekly to buy some of the freshest ? sh

I think about the blue tech economy, I might not have known you’re going to ? nd anywhere.” what you were talking about. Having a name that ties in all of The permitting was temporary for more than a year until the companies and employment opportunities, having a name Toni Atkins, who at the time the speaker of the assembly but gives us a handle on the ‘blue economy.’” And with the name is now a state senator, drafted legislation which she called ‘Pa- comes size and shape. Nearly ? ve years ago the San Diego ci? c to Plate.’ It changed state law so anywhere in California

Regional Economic Development Council conducted a study ? shermen can sell their catch direct to the public. “It has been to de? ne the Blue Economy, and there it found: great success at Tuna Harbor, and that’s just one of the success stories,” said Cox.

• 46,000 jobs • 1,400 companies Growing the Blue Economy • A $14 billion impact on the local economy Cox said the Blue Economy isn’t relegated simply to those that is directly the water. “In San Diego County we have many “That study is now ? ve years old, and it is my understanding ‘blue economy’ businesses that are inland,” said Cox. “These they are working on an update; it’s my feeling that the num- are jobs – blue collar and white collar jobs – that includes bers will be larger across the board,” said Cox. a wide range of sectors, from ? shing to shipbuilding to un- derwater robotics and telecommunications. It’s a wide swath

Tuna Harbor of career opportunities.” While Cox has the responsibility to

The San Diego Blue Economy is as diverse as you will ? nd facilitate growth in his region, he realizes that the business anywhere in the world. The U.S. Navy has a large and growing is global, and ultimately the industry in his region can grow presence, it houses a burgeoning base of commercial entities stronger with collaboration and cooperation. For companies including ship and boat building and repair, and it is home to looking to export beyond the Southern California borders, or

Scripps Institute of Oceanography, one of the most prestigious enter into cooperation with businesses and organizations in institutes for study and research in the world. But the ? shing his area, he offers a simple piece of advice and conduit.

industry, with a strong heritage of Portuguese, Spanish, Mexi- “I have become a strong advocate and supporter of The Mar- cans and Chinese, is its soul. To that end, Cox took particu- itime Alliance,” said Cox. “The Maritime Alliance has done lar interest when local ? shermen at Tuna Harbor were having an outstanding job in promoting blue tech and blue jobs, by problems selling their ? sh to the public when they couldn’t focusing not only on businesses, but also on education, and get proper permitting from the Department of Environmental policy as well as technological resources. By its very nature

Health, primarily because the port district didn’t have a clas- the blue economy is international,” and The Maritime Alli- si? cation for leasing space for these ? shermen. ance does a great job in helping to bring them all together.

www.marinetechnologynews.com

Marine Technology Reporter 71

MTR #2 (66-80).indd 71 MTR #2 (66-80).indd 71 3/1/2017 10:53:54 AM3/1/2017 10:53:54 AM