COASTAL TRANSITIONS IV
Beyond Blue Economy: Critical, Practical and Ethical Directions for Coastal Prosperity
August 26-27 2026
Venue: Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, Ireland
Conference Organizers:
C. Patrick Heidkamp, Ph.D.; Southern Connecticut State University; heidkampc1@southernct.edu
John Morrissey, Ph.D., Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick; john.morrissey@mic.ul.ie
Noelle King, Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick; noelle.king@mic.ul.ie
Description/Rationale:
Critics increasingly point to issues of "blue-washing," extractivism, and a narrow focus on growth that often undermines the coastal sustainability it claims to support. This workshop moves Beyond the Blue Economy to cultivate a new dialogue on coastal prosperity, based on principles of ecological integrity and social equity. By bridging emerging knowledge in governance, technology, and policy, we aim to catalyze a transition toward a truly inclusive and sustainable "true-blue economy”.
In the tradition of previous Coastal Transitions Conferences, this workshop targets direct dialogue and engagement between the scientific research community, government officials, NGO representatives and the business community by delivering a transdisciplinary interactive problem-based workshop. The workshop will build upon the successful Coastal Transitions Conferences of 2017, 2020, and 2023 which led to the publication of Towards Coastal Resilience and Sustainability in the Coastal Zone (Heidkamp & Morrissey, 2018) and Blue Economy: People and Regions in Transitions. Heidkamp, Morrissey, Germond-Duret (2022) and a special section in The Geographical Journal: (In)justice and the blue economy
Sub Themes:
We welcome theoretical, methodological as well as empirical or case study contributions especially related (but not limited to) the following sub-themes**:
Sustainable Food Systems / Blue Bio-Economy
Climate Change and the Blue Economy
Sustainable Energy
‘Life-Below Water’ and the Blue Economy
Alternatives For Coastal Prosperity
Blue De-Growth
Towards A Blue New Deal
Innovation In the Blue Economy
Community Resilience in the Coastal Zone
Blue Economy and Climate Adaptation, Resilience, Disruption
Marine Spatial Planning and The Blue Economy
Citizen Science and Community Participation
Participatory Governance for Inclusive Blue Economies
Just Transitions and The Blue Economy
Indigenous and Traditional Environmental Knowledges for Sustainability
Conceptualizing of the Blue Economy in Economic Geography
Critical Engagement with Blue Economy
Cultural Geography and the Blue Economy
Blue Economy and the Art-Science Nexus
**Papers will be shared in ‘lightning talk’ format, consisting of short 5 mins presentations, followed by group debate and discussion.
KEY DATES:
March 20, 2026: Abstracts Due
Submission Details: Please submit the name of the author(s), title and affiliation, the title of your proposed paper, your abstract (200 words or less), and five keywords to:
noelle.king@mic.ul.ie; heidkampc1@southernct.edu; & john.morrissey@mic.ul.ie
by March 20, 2026 (end of day).
April 10th, 2026: Acceptance Notification of Abstract, Registration Opens
May 8th, 2026: Registration Deadline
June 19th, 2026: Submission of full-paper (optional)
August 26 & 27, 2026: Coastal Transitions Workshop
Conference Fees:
We will be updating the website as information becomes available.
Please direct any inquiries to one of the organizers:
C. Patrick Heidkamp, Ph.D.; Southern Connecticut State University; heidkampc1@southernct.edu
Noelle King, Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick; noelle.king@mic.ul.ie
John Morrissey, Ph.D., Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick; john.morrissey@mic.ul.ie
Conference Outcomes:
Papers presented at Coastal Transitions will be invited for peer review and subsequent publication in an edited volume and/or edited issues in a journal focused on issues related to the Blue Economy. The IGU Commission on the Dynamics of Economic Spaces has a strong record of publishing from its conferences.
WE ACKNOWLEDGE GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM OUR PARTNERS:
