Navigating blue economy research conflicts for improved societal outcomes

The Blue Economy aims to balance economic prosperity, environmental stewardship, and social equity through sustainable ocean development. Its rapid expansion—spanning fisheries, aquaculture, maritime transport, and energy—has intensified competition for marine resources and space, often generating conflict and cumulative impacts on ecosystems and communities. These tensions are driven by uncertainty about outcomes, as well as differing stakeholder values and perceptions. To realize the goals of the Blue Economy, robust research is needed. However, research institutions working in contested marine spaces may face reputational, ethical, and strategic risks. These include navigating tensions among ocean users, developers, policymakers, and the public. From an organisational perspective, deciding whether to engage in such research requires balancing potential benefits against risks to integrity, partnerships, and long-term goals. This paper introduces the Conflict Navigation Grid, a decision-support framework that enables research organisations to systematically evaluate the risks and benefits of proposed projects. The Grid helps identify initiatives that provide strong organisational, community, environmental, and policy value while also assessing whether reputational, operational, or personal risks are manageable. It distinguishes projects that align with institutional values and capacities from those where the potential harms outweigh uncertain returns. By adopting this systematic decision framework, organisations can confidently make decisions in the face of conflict, thereby managing risk and achieving improved societal outcomes.