Positioning North Carolina’s Coast for a Blue Economy

North Carolina’s 320 miles of coastline offer a rich maritime history and unique ecosystems—from expansive wetlands and barrier islands to forests and estuaries. The region has potential for economic growth and technology adoption that can keep the coastline profitable and sustainable.

What Is the Blue Economy? 

Many coastal states across the U.S. have sought to grow their economies and protect natural assets through the “blue economy,” referring to a wide range of economic activities connected to oceans, coasts, and marine ecosystems. States such as Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Mississippi have already adopted blue economy strategies to coordinate statewide development. 

North Carolina’s unique geographic assets, strong university research base, military presence, and innovation pipeline make the state an ideal location for growing the blue economy. In 2023, the U.S. National Science Foundation funded NC EcoTech—a multiorganization initiative based at the University of North Carolina Wilmington—to create a pipeline of nature-based solutions through statewide connections and contributions to the regional workforce. 

How Aquaculture and Coastal Resilience Can Support North Carolina’s Blue Economy 

As a member of NC EcoTech, RTI produced an economic policy brief in 2025 that outlines how ecosystem technologies can drive economic development and protect natural resources. We found that North Carolina has the essential components needed to grow a blue economy, but many of these components operate in silos, stalling growth. There are notable growth opportunities for ecosystem technologies, or “ecotech,” and nature-based solutions in the aquaculture and coastal resilience sectors. 

Aquaculture in North Carolina 

Aquaculture is used to produce fish and seafood for consumption or to replenish wild stocks; it can also be used to cultivate aquatic plants such as seaweed. Approximately 90% of the seafood consumed in the U.S. is imported, leading to a seafood trade deficit of over $20 billion annually. Our report found that North Carolina makes up only 1.7% of the $1.9 billion U.S. aquaculture market. The state has the potential to grow the industry, stimulating the U.S. economy while reducing reliance on seafood imports. Aquaculture businesses will need to integrate advanced tools, including smart sensors and artificial intelligence (AI), to scale operations, increase sustainability, and improve cost competitiveness against imports. 

Coastal Resilience in North Carolina 

Coastal resilience refers to the ability of communities, economies, and ecosystems to prepare for hazardous events, such as hurricanes and rising sea levels, that can cause erosion. Up to 75% of North Carolina’s coastline experiences erosion, and the state ranks among the top three in the U.S. for coastal infrastructure protection spending. 

For every $1 spent on mitigation, $13 is spent on disaster recovery and rebuilding costs nationally. Our brief found that investing in nature-based solutions, such as living shorelines, can help absorb wave impact, filter polluted water, and reduce the risk of flooding and coastal erosion. These solutions create jobs, stimulate the economy, and avoid costly erosion-prevention infrastructure like seawalls that negatively impact aquatic ecosystems. 

RTI’s Recommendations for North Carolina’s Blue Economy 

To overcome coastal challenges faced by North Carolina and invest in the blue economy, we provided four recommendations: 

1. Create a statewide plan for the blue economy 
2. Invest in new technologies and research 
3. Update outdated regulations 
4. Fund pilot projects to test new ideas 

Read the full brief.  

The Future of Aquaculture and Coastal Resilience in North Carolina 

While North Carolina has yet to develop a statewide strategy for the blue economy, NC EcoTech is actively working to secure funding and build partnerships across the state to develop technologies and strategies that invest in aquaculture and coastal resilience, with some pilot projects underway. 

Currently, NC EcoTech is developing a strategy to establish engineered aquatic habitats across areas in North Carolina that are experiencing saltwater intrusion and coastal erosion. This concept includes flooding an area and creating a habitat that maximizes production of high-value aquatic species while creating a buffer against environmental threats. New technologies would be integrated in each habitat to manage multi-trophic aquaculture systems. These systems would provide protection against flooding and land loss in coastal areas while increasing seafood production. 

NC EcoTech is also partnering with the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Office of Science, Technology and Innovation to explore aquaculture opportunities as part of North Carolina’s defense strategy. Science-based methods, such as microbial analysis and remote monitoring capabilities, can track and prevent external threats and illegal fishing, ensuring that the seafood Americans buy and consume is safe and traceable. 

One proposal is to create aquaculture test beds in eastern North Carolina to conduct research and implement tools such as AI to track environmental data, including nutrient cycling, water quality, and overall ecosystem health. This would increase domestic food security; reduce illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing activities; and track and identify underwater security threats. 

As North Carolina works to advance its blue economy, the state is well positioned to develop public-private partnerships to prove business models that will attract investments—creating jobs, reducing reliance on imported seafood, and sustaining coastal ecosystems—which will allow North Carolina to become a leader in coastal innovation. 

RTI’s research on this effort shows our commitment to boosting the state’s economy through innovation so that the people, animals, and ecosystems that call North Carolina home can have a healthy, prosperous future.