The Mediterranean is not just a body of water, it is a living laboratory of innovation, sustainability, and opportunity. Across its shores, youth and women are turning challenges like unemployment, pollution, and gender gaps into opportunities for growth, creativity, and impact.
At Callme BLUE, we believe the future of the Mediterranean’s blue economy is inclusive, bold, and driven by the next generation of innovators. From aquaculture startups to eco-tourism ventures, these changemakers are redefining how the region uses its marine resources.
Youth: Shaping the Mediterranean’s Blue Future
Across the Mediterranean, young people are turning challenges into opportunities, from rising unemployment to environmental threats, by reimagining what the blue economy can be.
In ports, labs, and coastal communities, youth are:
- Reinventing Fisheries: Developing smart technologies that help fishers harvest sustainably, reduce waste, and protect marine biodiversity.
- Driving Eco-Innovation: Launching startups that turn seaweed, algae, and marine by-products into sustainable food, cosmetics, and energy solutions.
- Transforming Tourism: Creating immersive, eco-friendly experiences that connect travelers with local culture and marine conservation.
- Harnessing Digital Tools: Using apps, AI, and mapping platforms to monitor pollution, optimize supply chains, and make coastal industries more resilient.
These young innovators are not just participants, they are co-creators of a Mediterranean blue economy that is sustainable, inclusive, and forward-looking. By combining creativity, technology, and environmental stewardship, they are proving that the next generation is ready to lead, scale impact, and inspire change across the region.
Women Entrepreneurs Making Waves
Women are leading ventures that balance economic growth and environmental sustainability, proving that inclusion drives impact:
- Startups and Sustainability: One in three Mediterranean blue economy startups is founded or led by women, higher than global averages in comparable sectors. Women-led seaweed farms, marine biotech firms, and eco-tourism ventures embrace circular economy principles, producing sustainable food, cosmetics, and environmental solutions.
- Training and Mentorship: Programs like WIN-BIG, WINBLUE, and Break EU provide training, mentoring, and networks for women in coastal tourism, aquaculture, and marine innovation, supporting gender-responsive policies across the Mediterranean.
- Celebrating Success: The WeMed Award highlights women-led sustainable blue businesses, showcasing scalable solutions that create jobs, protect ecosystems, and inspire future generations.
Spotlight: Tunisia’s Female Clam Collectors
In Tunisia, over 4,000 female clam collectors received social protection, training, and access to value chains through FAO and government programs. This initiative empowered women in family fisheries, improved livelihoods, and strengthened marine conservation, all while highlighting the hidden potential of women’s work in the blue economy.
Opportunities and Future Horizons
The Mediterranean has immense untapped potential, but realizing it requires investment in people, skills, and innovation:
- Networks and Platforms: The UfM’s Mediterranean Blue Economy Stakeholder Platform connects youth and women to opportunities, funding, and mentorship.
- Digitalization and Skills: Investments in blue skills, technology, and digital tools enable youth and women to scale their ventures and increase impact.
- Inclusive Growth: Reducing gender and youth participation gaps could unlock up to 30% of the region’s GDP, creating a resilient, thriving, and sustainable blue economy.
Callme BLUE’s Vision
At Callme BLUE, we see a Mediterranean where:
- Youth and women are innovators, leaders, and change-makers
- Sustainable industries and communities thrive together
- Collaboration and creativity transcend borders
The future is inclusive, resilient, and driven by bold ideas. By empowering youth and women, the Mediterranean can become a global model of sustainable blue economy growth, combining prosperity, innovation, and environmental stewardship.
Join us in shaping a Mediterranean where every voice counts, every idea matters, and the ocean is a source of opportunity for all.