Understanding the Impacts of Blue Economy Growth on Deep-Sea Ecosystem Services

Abstract

The deep sea is the vastest environment on Earth and provides many services and goods. Understanding the services and goods of deep-sea ecosystems would enable better resource governance and decision-making. In the present study, we reviewed and assessed deep-sea ecosystems services using the Ma conceptual framework, which incorporates ecosystems services and goods with human welfare. We also analyzed and measured the scientific production between 2012 and 2021 using the Dimension dataset. The bibliometric analysis showed a lack of studies related to deep-sea ecosystem services, which suggest the urgent need to overcome the existing knowledge gap regarding deep-sea components. However, the current knowledge revealed the crucial role that these ecosystems provide to the planet. Furthermore, we highlighted that there are common services and goods, and every ecosystem service feeds into another one. Developing actions and policies based on approaches that combine all deep-sea ecosystems services and goods are needed for the sustainable growth of the deep-sea economy in accordance with the United Nations Development Goal 14: Life Below Water.