The world’s marine and freshwater ecosystems – the Blue World – provide essential ecosystem services, biodiversity, food and livelihoods for hundreds of millions of people. The concept of a "blue economy" came out of the 2012 Rio+20 Conference. It is based on the premise that healthy and sustainable ocean ecosystems are more productive and a must for sustainable ocean-based economies.

The goal of this regional initiative is to achieve sustainable use of living aquatic resources and sustainable growth of regional aquaculture to enhance food and nutrition security through meeting increasing  regional and world demand for fish, aid poverty alleviation and encourage economic development in the region.