The Maritime Alliance (TMA) was founded in 2007 to organize the fast-growing San Diego, CA maritime (ocean & water) technology industry cluster – the largest BlueTech cluster in the U.S. and one of the largest in the world. We believe that Blue Economy and BlueTech clusters represent one of the most effective ways to protect the ocean by aligning interests of the Triple Helix – academia, industry, and policy (government, NGOs, etc.) – to create regional Blue Voices globally to pursue sustainable, science-based usage of the ocean.
San Diego is a world-class harbor with a diversified port, the largest recreational fishing fleet in the U.S., renowned academic and research institutions, and a large and growing military presence. TMA co-sponsored the San Diego Maritime Industry Report 2012 – the 1st ever Blue Economy report in this ocean city – that showed that the county’s Blue Economy includes more than 1,400 companies producing more than S14 billion in annual direct sales, employing more than 46,000 in maritime related economic activity – larger than biotech, cleantech and telecom in the region. It also sponsored a March 2014 “Marine Spatial Planning in San Diego & Stakeholder Overview” by a graduate student team from UC San Diego.
We believe in the Triple Bottom Line (“People, planet and profit”) that balances economic, environmental and social equity factors. The use of innovative mapping and data sharing tools leading to a comprehensive ocean planning process are essential steps to promote smart ocean usage, faster approval processes, and the Blue Economy in every region. Count us in as a big supporter!