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In recent years the urgency for sustainable development has put the blue bioeconomy in the spotlight – a multifaceted field that focuses on the responsible and innovative use of marine and aquatic resources. This aligns with the broader sustainability goals of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) especially those related to climate action (SDG 13), life below water (SDG 14) and decent work and economic growth (SDG 8). The blue bioeconomy encompasses sectors such as fisheries, aquaculture, marine biotechnology and coastal tourism and aims to harmonize economic productivity with marine ecosystem preservation and offers ecological and socio-economic benefits.

The Mediterranean is a key area to explore the blue bioeconomy due to its biodiversity richness, dense coastal populations and economic dependence on maritime sectors especially tourism. Coastal areas in countries like Lebanon are demographic and GDP drivers but also suffer from intense human pressures such as illegal fishing, habitat degradation, pollution and unregulated tourism (Rizk and Vartanian, 2018). These pressures undermine ecosystem services and risk pushing coastal economies into a grey economy – where informal or illicit practices reduce long term value and equity (Gormsen, 1997).

Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic presented an unprecedented stress test for coastal tourism systems, particularly in the Mediterranean. While it is globally acknowledged that tourism, public health, and local economies are interconnected, this study leverages the pandemic as a pivotal moment to examine how crisis events can catalyze shifts toward more resilient and sustainable tourism governance. In the context of Batroun, Lebanon, COVID-19 served as both a disruptor and an inflection point, prompting stakeholders to rethink tourism planning within the broader scope of the blue bioeconomy. By applying participatory tools in a localized setting, this paper highlights how health crises can trigger adaptive governance innovations transferable to other Mediterranean destinations.

Amid these systemic threats to socio-ecological resilience and building on this contextual foundation, the Co-Evolve4BG project funded by the ENI CBC Med Program provides a framework to understand how participatory governance and stakeholder engagement can address these sustainability challenges.

This paper presents findings from a Mediterranean pilot site located in Lebanon, showing how collaborative tools such as SWOT analyses can guide integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) and contribute to the development of a resilient and inclusive blue bioeconomy. It bridges academic research with on the ground policy action and provides practical pathways to enhance socio-ecological resilience.

Building on this contextual foundation, it is essential to examine the scholarly landscape that has informed the evolution of the blue bioeconomy and stakeholder engagement across Mediterranean coastal systems.

The blue bioeconomy has become a key driver for coastal sustainable development especially in regions heavily dependent on marine resources. Defined as the sustainable use of ocean and aquatic resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and ecosystem health it encompasses a wide range of sectors such as fisheries, aquaculture, marine biotechnology and coastal tourism (Araújo et al., 2021). The Mediterranean, with its unique socio-ecological systems and heritage-rich coastlines, is especially relevant to blue bioeconomy transitions. But the success of these initiatives depends heavily on good governance, stakeholder inclusion and pollution mitigation strategies. Several authors have emphasized that stakeholder engagement is key to long term sustainability in coastal and marine systems. Berkes (2009, 2010) introduced the concept of co-management where local stakeholders and government institutions share decision making responsibilities to increase legitimacy and compliance. This is especially relevant in Mediterranean contexts where informal economies and decentralized governance often hinder environmental enforcement. Similarly, Reed (2008) stated that early and inclusive stakeholder participation improves decision quality, manages conflicts and promotes social learning – principles that underpin the participatory approach of the Co-Evolve4BG project.

The integration of local knowledge through participatory methods such as SWOT analyses and workshops has been proven in previous studies. For example, Tompkins et al. (2008) showed how scenario-based stakeholder engagement fosters adaptive management in the face of climate uncertainty. These participatory tools are particularly suited to the Mediterranean where cultural values and governance systems intersect. Moreover, the inclusion of youth, diaspora and civil society in environmental action as seen in one of the pilot regions of Lebanon, Batroun reflects the “sense of place” model by Ardoin et al. (2015) where emotional and cultural ties to a landscape promote pro-environmental behavior (Pahl-Wostl, 2015).

In parallel, environmental pressures continue to challenge blue economy growth. Human induced impacts – from unregulated tourism and pollution to IUU (Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated) fishing – have been shown to degrade marine ecosystems and erode local economies (Halpern et al., 2015; Islam and Tanaka, 2004). Pauly and Zeller (2016) argue that global fish catches are underreported and increasingly unsustainable, exacerbating ecological decline and reducing returns for coastal communities. The Batroun SWOT analysis reflects these challenges pointing to wastewater leakage, chemical pollution and invasive species as key threats to ecosystem integrity.

To counteract these trends integrated policy frameworks such as Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) have been recommended. ICZM emphasizes cross sectoral planning, participatory governance and ecosystem-based management, all of which align with the Co-Evolve4BG approach. However, Shipman and Stojanovic (2007) argue that ICZM has struggled in Europe due to poor institutional coordination and implementation gaps – challenges also reflected in Batroun’s fragmented regulatory environment and lack of enforcement capacity. Meanwhile, sustainable tourism is evolving as a tool for economic diversification and environmental stewardship. McLeod et al. (2022) argue that top-down tourism policies in mass destinations fail due to lack of local input. But when tourism is integrated with cultural heritage, marine protection and circular economy models, it can support a regenerative blue economy. Practices such as reusing fishing nets, promoting eco-tourism and enhancing fishermen’s cooperatives, reflect the vision of Olesen et al. (2023) who argues that circular economy strategies in fisheries can reduce marine waste and increase value-added production.

Innovation is also key. Marine biotechnology as highlighted by Rudovica et al. (2021) and nature-based solutions for beach restoration and pollution control (OECD, 2018) offer opportunities for sustainable coastal development. These innovations require investment in capacity building and governance which the FAO (2021) calls the “Blue Transformation”.

According to the Araújo et al. (2021) this sector supports employment and innovation and plays a crucial role in mitigating climate change and environmental degradation. Nonetheless, the blue bioeconomy success is highly dependent on the integration of science-based management and stakeholder involvement.

Several studies have emphasized that stakeholder engagement is the cornerstone for sustainability in marine and coastal contexts. Berkes (2010) stresses the value of co-management systems, where local actors are empowered to make decisions alongside government authorities to increase legitimacy and compliance. Tompkins et al. (2008) highlight the effectiveness of scenario-based participatory methods in reducing conflicts and integrating local knowledge into environmental governance. These participatory models are especially relevant in the Mediterranean context where the socio-political landscape is fragmented, and communities have deep historical ties to coastal ecosystems. In sustainable tourism, which is a key component of the blue bioeconomy, Ardoin et al. (2019) introduced the concept of “sense of place” to explain how emotional and cultural ties to coastal areas influence environmental behavior. This complements ecosystem services approaches that assess the tangible and intangible benefits from healthy marine environments (Crossman et al., 2018; Barbier et al., 2011). Moreover, integrating heritage preservation into sustainable tourism has been shown to promote economic diversification and community resilience as seen in case studies of Tyre (Lebanon) and Djerba (Tunisia) (French Ministry of Culture, 2025; Ayadi and Forouheshfar, 2023).

Despite these frameworks the literature also warns of significant threats that can undermine blue bioeconomic progress. Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, pollution and uncontrolled urbanization erode marine biodiversity and reduce the long-term viability of coastal industries (Cambridge Prisms, 2025). These issues are exacerbated by weak regulatory enforcement and the proliferation of informal economies that siphon resources away from sustainable channels. Prokopiou et al. (2019) and Rangwala (2024) advocate for dynamic and adaptive planning models including SWOT analyses to better capture context specific challenges and opportunities.

The Co-Evolve4BG project builds on these insights by applying participatory methods across pilot sites in Lebanon, Tunisia, Spain and Greece. Its methodology integrates ICZM principles with locally tailored action plans to provide empirical evidence on how stakeholder participation can improve ecosystem governance and support blue growth. Therefore, it contributes to an evolving discourse that seeks to balance ecological integrity with economic development through inclusive, innovative, and place-based approaches.

In summary, the Co-Evolve4BG project aligns with a growing body of research that advocates for inclusive, adaptive, and cross-sectoral approaches to sustain the blue bioeconomy. The Batroun case provides empirical evidence on how participatory processes and environmental innovation can be scaled up across Mediterranean coastal communities to address ecological degradation and socio-economic fragility.

Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) has been the prevailing framework guiding sustainable planning and resource coordination in coastal areas since the 1990s. Rooted in ecosystem-based management and intersectoral governance, ICZM promotes participatory approaches and long-term strategic planning to harmonize economic development with environmental protection (Shipman and Stojanovic, 2007). It has been particularly influential in the Mediterranean context, where diverse pressures such as tourism, urbanization, and biodiversity loss converge. However, despite its conceptual strength, ICZM has faced increasing criticism regarding its practical implementation. Scholars highlight several structural limitations, including fragmented legal frameworks, lack of vertical coordination between governance levels, and inflexibility in responding to emerging crises such as health emergencies or extreme climate events (Jones and Carpenter, 2009; Fraschetti et al., 2018). In many Mediterranean coastal areas, including Lebanon, these limitations are further exacerbated by institutional instability and limited enforcement capacities.

In response to these shortcomings, alternative frameworks have emerged to better address the dynamic and uncertain nature of socio-environmental systems. One such framework is adaptive governance, which emphasizes institutional flexibility, polycentric governance, social learning, and stakeholder inclusion (Folke et al., 2005; Chaffin et al., 2014). Adaptive governance diverges from ICZM’s top-down, planning-oriented structure by promoting iterative decision-making, local experimentation, and responsiveness to change. These characteristics are particularly relevant in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed the need for decentralized, rapid, and locally-informed responses to system-wide shocks in the tourism sector. In this sense, the Co-Evolve4BG project’s participatory methodology—centered on stakeholder workshops, SWOT analyses, and action planning—reflects principles of adaptive governance by fostering co-production of knowledge and feedback-driven strategy formulation.

Complementary to adaptive governance is the socio-ecological systems (SES) framework, which views human and natural systems as deeply intertwined and co-evolving. The SES perspective emphasizes resilience, feedback mechanisms, and cross-scale interactions, and has been widely applied in the study of marine and coastal resource management (Ostrom, 2009; Berkes, 2000). In this view, tourism-dependent coastal zones are not just economic spaces, but complex systems where environmental degradation, social vulnerability, and governance capacities interact. The COVID-19 pandemic, framed through an SES lens, constitutes a systemic disturbance that tests the resilience of these interconnected systems. Evaluating Mediterranean tourism responses to the pandemic therefore requires not only an understanding of tourism flows or environmental quality, but also of the institutional, cultural, and ecological feedbacks that shape adaptation.

The integration of ICZM, adaptive governance, and SES frameworks offers a more holistic lens for analyzing the governance of Mediterranean coastal tourism in the face of overlapping health and environmental crises. While ICZM provides a foundational structure for intersectoral coordination, adaptive governance and SES contribute the necessary flexibility and systems thinking required to navigate uncertainty and support transformation. This theoretical triangulation is particularly useful for interpreting the Co-Evolve4BG project outcomes, which highlight the role of participatory processes, local innovation, and cross-scale collaboration in fostering resilience. It also provides a conceptual bridge between the operational goals of the blue bioeconomy and the broader challenges of socio-ecological sustainability in coastal regions.

This study uses a qualitative, participatory action research (PAR) approach based on Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) and blue bioeconomy governance frameworks. The methodology was applied within the context of the EU-funded Co-Evolve4BG project in Batroun pilot area in Lebanon. The overall objective was to assess how stakeholder participation contributes to identifying challenges and co-developing solutions for coastal ecosystem management and tourism development. Ethical approval for stakeholder engagement was obtained under the Co-Evolve4BG Project framework.

The application of the Co-Evolve4BG Toolkit in Batroun, Lebanon, yielded a comprehensive performance assessment of the pilot area across environmental, economic, and governance dimensions of coastal tourism sustainability. The participatory evaluation process, informed by local expertise and stakeholder input, revealed areas of relative strength and concern.

The findings from Batroun contribute significantly to the literature on blue economy transitions and stakeholder-led governance in coastal Mediterranean settings. In contrast to broader global observations on the pandemic’s impact on tourism, this study demonstrates how localized participatory methods—particularly the Co-Evolve4BG Toolkit—can diagnose site-specific vulnerabilities and mobilize community-driven responses.

By anchoring the assessment in ICZM and blue bioeconomy frameworks, the study underscores the importance of inclusiveness and co-management in achieving sustainable outcomes. As emphasized by Berkes (2009) and Reed (2008), stakeholder participation enhances legitimacy, knowledge integration, and long-term engagement—elements that were clearly evident in Batroun’s process. For example, the incorporation of civil society actors, local businesses, and academic institutions into the action planning phase supported a shared vision of sustainability rooted in place-based knowledge.

Importantly, the COVID-19 pandemic served as a disruptive yet catalytic force, prompting local actors to re-evaluate tourism dependencies and propose alternatives that align more closely with ecological preservation and circular economy principles. This reflects global trends yet adds value through context-specific insights. In Batroun, the pandemic highlighted the urgency of improving waste management systems, restoring coastal habitats, and integrating health preparedness into tourism planning—findings that hold relevance for similarly structured coastal towns across the Mediterranean.

The study advances conceptual linkages between crisis response, participatory governance, and blue economy pathways. It shows how combining top-down frameworks (like ICZM) with bottom-up engagement can bridge implementation gaps—an issue flagged by Shipman and Stojanovic (2007) as central to Mediterranean coastal governance. Finally, the approach adopted here offers a replicable model for other coastal areas seeking to align post-crisis recovery with long-term sustainability goals.

This study underscores the necessity of integrated, stakeholder-driven governance to achieve sustainable tourism and blue bioeconomy transitions in Mediterranean coastal cities. Implementing Batroun’s action plan could serve as a model, demonstrating how locally grounded, evidence-based strategies can mitigate vulnerabilities and promote long-term resilience. Future efforts must prioritize community empowerment, institutional capacity building, diversified economic models, and regional collaboration to secure a sustainable and inclusive post-pandemic Mediterranean tourism sector.

The link between tourism, public health systems and local economies became more apparent during the crisis. Coastal and island destinations with underdeveloped health infrastructure struggled to adapt to emergency needs and tourists perceived greater risk. Nature-based and eco-tourism were initially seen as safer alternatives, but their development was hindered by lack of digital preparedness, insufficient infrastructure and lack of crisis attentiveness. This means while eco-tourism has long-term potential for sustainable tourism development it needs strategic investment and policy support to fulfil this role during future health-related disruptions.

This study contributes novel empirical insights into how participatory governance and diagnostic tools can guide tourism resilience in Mediterranean coastal areas, using the Batroun pilot site as a case study. Unlike generic accounts of COVID-19’s impact, our findings demonstrate how a health crisis catalyzed a community-led transition toward blue economy principles—integrating public health, circular economy, and marine sustainability. The application of the Co-Evolve4BG Toolkit and SWOT analyses revealed context-specific vulnerabilities and actionable pathways for recovery. These include localized health protocols, digital innovation, and sustainable tourism diversification. The study offers a transferable model for crisis-responsive tourism development, bridging health resilience with blue economy goals through stakeholder co-creation.

Given the scale and depth of the impact of COVID-19 on Mediterranean tourism, a multi-faceted approach is needed to build resilience and recovery. At policy level Mediterranean countries should work together to develop harmonized health protocols and crisis management frameworks. Coordinated regional health measures can facilitate safer cross-border travel and a more united response to future health emergencies. National governments should support destination-level strategies to diversify tourism offerings and reduce dependence on a single type of tourism (maritime or cruise-based). Strengthening healthcare infrastructure in high-traffic tourism areas, particularly in rural and island regions, is crucial to ensure safety and reassure domestic and international tourists. Tour operators and DMOs should put more emphasis on health and well-being in the tourist experience. This means not only implementing hygiene protocols but also creating tourism products that promote physical and psychological wellness such as nature retreats and wellness-oriented accommodations. Digital transformation is another key area to focus on, technology can play a central role in disseminating health information, contactless services and customer engagement. Local sourcing and community-based tourism can also contribute to building more inclusive and resilient tourism economies that can absorb external shocks.

From a research perspective, the pandemic requires more interdisciplinary research. Future studies should investigate the link between public health, tourism behavior and economic resilience drawing from fields such as epidemiology, behavioral science and environmental economics. Longitudinal studies on post-pandemic tourist behavior are needed to inform future marketing strategies and infrastructure development. Academic institutions can also design early warning systems and decision-support tools for tourism stakeholders using real-time data analytics and predictive modelling.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a turning point for the Mediterranean tourism sector, it forces stakeholders to re-evaluate long-standing practices and adopt more sustainable and resilient models of tourism development. The crisis showed that health emergencies are not isolated incidents but recurring challenges in an increasingly interconnected world. In this context, safeguarding tourist well-being must be repositioned as a strategic imperative deeply embedded in the governance, planning and promotion of tourism across the region.

The pandemic has highlighted the need for regional cooperation, investment in healthcare and digital infrastructure and diversification of tourism offerings. It has also shown the potential of underutilized sectors such as eco-tourism and wellness tourism to act as buffers during global crises. By taking proactive steps to integrate health preparedness into tourism systems, Mediterranean countries can improve their ability to respond to future emergencies and the quality and inclusiveness of their tourism industries. Resilience, adaptability and a renewed focus on human well-being, will be the key to long-term sustainability and competitiveness of Mediterranean tourism in the post-pandemic era.