BLUE ECONOMY AND INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS: WATER EFFICIENCY, WATER FOOTPRINT, AND TRACEABILITY IN SEAFOOD SUPPLY CHAINS

Abstract

The Blue Economy has assumed a strategic role in global sustainable development agendas by linking economic growth, food security, and the conservation of aquatic ecosystems. However, its effectiveness depends on the adoption of management systems capable of integrating quality management, rational water use, and traceability throughout seafood and algae value chains. In this context, this study conducts a bibliographic review with a narrative approach and systematic elements, aiming to analyze and integrate normative, sectoral, and scientific evidence related to quality management, water efficiency, water footprint, and traceability within the Blue Economy. The review encompasses international standards (ISO 9001, ISO 22000, ISO 14001, ISO 14046, and ISO 46001), institutional reports from organizations such as FAO and the European Commission, as well as scientific articles indexed in Scopus and Web of Science, with a focus on aquaculture, seafood processing, and associated value chains. The findings indicate that integrating operational water performance indicators—such as specific water consumption (m³/t), reuse rates, purge losses, and effluent parameters (COD and BOD₅)—with environmental impact indicators, particularly the water scarcity footprint (WSF) based on the AWARE method, enhances regulatory compliance, production efficiency, and socio-environmental transparency. In addition, digital traceability supported by interoperable standards such as the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) emerges as a structuring element for data governance, consumer trust, and access to more demanding markets. Despite these advances, relevant challenges persist, including data standardization, instrumentation and monitoring costs, technical capacity building, and the integration of digital technologies with management systems. It is concluded that the Blue Economy can only be consolidated as a sustainable model when supported by auditable management systems, comparable metrics of water efficiency and impact, and robust mechanisms for traceability and data governance. This study contributes by offering an integrative synthesis that supports managers, researchers, and policymakers in the practical implementation of strategies aligned with sustainability, competitiveness, and transparency in seafood value chains.