Maritime Security and Sustainability: An Outlook

The pages of this volume have contemplated the nexus between maritime security and sustainability, noting that, in the context of the oceans, these issues cannot be considered in isolation. This chapter distills the key lessons from the volume as follows: that an integrated governance approach is necessary to strengthen maritime security; that often economic growth is priortised over sustainability considerations; migration and food security are a key point of intersection of the maritime security-sustainability nexus; and that sustainability issues are often sidelined when matters of traditional security arise. The chapter also outlines nine suggestions for policy-making in this domain around the following themes: International collaboration; dispute resolution; regulatory frameworks; environmental protection; maritime infrastructure; technological advances; capacity building; public awareness and education; and scientific and academic research. Lastly, the chapter looks to the future, making suggestions for future research, mainly in the Social Sciences. Here, we highlight the need for the inclusion of communities in maritime resource management; the question of gender in maritime studies; the implementation of the circular economy model within the Blue Economy; and the need for governance and legal frameworks in the context of climate change.