Ocean colonization

Artist's impression of an imagined settlement in the ocean

Ocean colonization (also blue colonization or ocean grabbing)[1][2] is the exploitation, settlement or territorial claim of the ocean and the oceanic crust.

Ocean colonization has been identified critically as a form of colonization and colonialism, particularly in the light of growing exploitive and destructive blue economy ocean development, such as deep sea mining, calls for blue justice have been made.[3][4]

Ocean colonization as ocean settlement, or seasteading, being the extending of human settlement to the ocean, has been identified as settler colonial "tech-colonialism" at sea.[5] Such settlements have been suggested to be established with floating accommodation platforms, such as very large cruise ships or artificial islands, establishing seasteads, or with underwater habitats, employing offshore construction,[6] with arguments for floating structures, as they are generally less impacted by natural disasters.[7] Ocean settlement with the construction of artificial structures in aquatic environments though can also be disruptive to natural marine ecosystems.[8]

Territorial claims are another and continuing international issue, with sovereign states advancing claims through developing and claiming uncontrolled islands, such as in the South China Sea and ocean settlements possibly establishing sovereign states.[9]

Ocean colonization has been advocated for and compared to space colonization, particularly as a proving ground for the latter. In particular, the issue of sovereignty may bear many similarities between ocean and space colonization; adjustments to social life in harsh circumstances would apply similarly to the ocean and to space; and many technologies may have uses in both environments.[10]

  1. ^ "A Pacific resistance to Blue colonization". Karibu Foundation. 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
  2. ^ Barbesgaard, Mads (2024-07-25). "Blue Growth and Ocean Grabbing: A Historical Materialist Perspective on Fisheries in East Africa". Transnational Institute. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
  3. ^ Watts, Jonathan (2021-09-27). "Race to the bottom: the disastrous, blindfolded rush to mine the deep sea". the Guardian. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
  4. ^ Ranganathan, Surabhi (2020-12-10). "Decolonization and International Law: Putting the Ocean on the Map". Journal of the History of International Law. 23 (1). Brill: 161–183. doi:10.1163/15718050-12340168. ISSN 1388-199X. S2CID 234549799.
  5. ^ Hughes, Tristan (2024-05-05). "The political theory of techno-colonialism". European Journal of Political Theory. doi:10.1177/14748851241249819. ISSN 1474-8851.
  6. ^ Bolonkin, Alexander (2008). Floating Cities, Islands and States. University of New York. pp. 1–6, 11.
  7. ^ Friedman, Gramlich (2009). Seasteading: a practical guide to homesteading the high seas. Palo Alto: Seasteading Institute.
  8. ^ Gibling, C. "Construction Process and Post-Construction Impacts of the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, United Arab Emirates" (PDF). Coastal and Ocean Engineering. 1: 1–4.
  9. ^ Ranganathan, S (2019). "Seasteads, land-grabs and international law" (PDF). International Legal Theory: Symposium on Land-Grabbing. 1: 205–214.
  10. ^ Ananeva, Ella (23 May 2019). "7 Reasons Why We Should Colonize Oceans Instead Of Mars". Medium.