PATHWAYS TO SUSTAINABLE OCEAN VALUE IN THE PACIFIC – EXPLORING CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT

Pathways to sustainable ocean value in the Pacific – exploring cluster development. An exciting new project has kicked off between two blue economy clusters on two different sides of the globe – Iceland Ocean Cluster, Iceland and Moananui, New Zealand.  This project seeks to share ideas between Iceland and the Pacific region on how we can “do more with less” with our precious seafood resources and explore pathways to impactful collaboration through cluster thinking. This ambitious project is funded by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Fund of the Icelandic Ministry of Foreign Affairs and will shed light on how remote fishing communities and island nations such as Kirabati could benefit from such collaboration.

On April 9^th a “Scale to Tail” workshop will be held in Nelson, New Zealand at the Moananui headquarters and will invite key Nordic and Pacific voices to join together to share knowledge and ideas.  Two talks, supported by funding from Nordic Talks, a Nordic Council of Ministers program will highlight expertise from the Nordics and Pacific. The first talk will feature “100% Fish”, a program pioneered by the Iceland Ocean Cluster to create more value, and less waste from seafood. The second talk will explore ideas on how clusters can foster trust and connection. This workshop will run alongside the annual Moananui Out of the Blue Summit, the region’s largest blue economy activation event.

Iceland Ocean Cluster and Moananui are also strengthening their collaboration through a new cooperation agreement to support resilient blue economies in Iceland and New Zealand.

Dr. Alexandra Leeper, CEO of Iceland Ocean Cluster said:

“This project is a wonderful opportunity to share ideas between Iceland and the Pacific region on ways to build trust and collaboration that foster great ideas for the future blue economy”

Jodie Kuntzsch, Executive Director of Moananui said:

“Collaboration is the lifeblood of innovation in the blue economy. This project exemplifies the power of uniting diverse expertise and perspectives across the globe to tackle complex challenges and unlock new opportunities that generate social, ecological and economic value.”

About the Iceland Ocean Cluster

The Iceland Ocean Cluster is a blue economy cluster based in Reykjavik, Iceland and involved in projects and activities globally to create sustainable value creation for our oceans.  Iceland Ocean Cluster has spearheaded the global 100% Fish movement, the concept of not wasting any of the precious seafood that we catch and farm but instead creating sustainable and socio-economically valuable products.  Their work focused on innovation, cross-sector collaboration and circular economic thinking. The Iceland Ocean Cluster is exploring how both 100% Fish and cluster models can support similar value creation all around the world.

About Moananui

Moananui is a blue economy cluster based in Nelson, New Zealand. It is an independent, partner-driven organisation that unites businesses and institutions across maritime sectors with a shared mission: to grow their enterprises and the blue economy while creating economic and social value and improving ocean health.

Moananui leverages the region’s dense concentration of world-leading capabilities and infrastructure and draws on a deep network of co-developers from around New Zealand and the world to solve ocean challenges together at pace, at scale and with commercial outcomes.

Since its inception in 2023, the organisation’s work has resulted in new ventures being formed, seed capital raisings, improved government support and global projects