Mapping the Intersections of the Blue Economy and Blue Crime: A Multi-Method Bibliometric, Thematic, and Factorial Analysis
Keywords:
Maritime governance, ocean sustainability, IUU fishing, piracy, maritime security networks, bibliometric analysis, thematic mapping, ocean policy integrationAbstract
The rise of the Blue Economy as a framework for sustainable ocean development is increasingly challenged by Blue Crime, including illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, piracy, trafficking and environmental offences that threaten ecological resilience and governance stability. This study presents the first multi-method mapping of scholarship at the Blue Economy-Blue Crime nexus, using integrated bibliometric, thematic and factorial analyses of Scopus and Web of Science publications from 2015 to 2024. Research output has surged since 2019, reflecting global attention to SDG 14 and maritime security concerns. Two primary thematic clusters emerge: Governance- and sustainability focused research on ocean policy integration and security-oriented studies on crime typologies, enforcement gaps and regional vulnerabilities, particularly in the Gulf of Guinea and Western Indian Ocean. Factorial and conceptual analyses reveal a persistent divide between security-driven and sustainability-driven scholarship, underscoring field fragmentation. Despite emerging collaborations, knowledge production remains regionally concentrated. This synthesis offers an evidence-based roadmap for advancing interdisciplinary research and informing policy to secure and sustain the Blue Economy.
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