JERUSALEM, July 5 (Xinhua) -- Israel has launched a national center for blue economy and innovation, the country's Ministry of Environmental Protection and Haifa Municipality said in separate statements on Tuesday.

The center was established in the northern city of Haifa, in collaboration with the municipality, Israel's Planning Administration, the Prime Minister's Office, and the University of Haifa.

The new center aims to promote and develop entrepreneurship and technological innovation in a variety of fields related to maritime space, including aquaculture, shipping, marine tourism, and marine nature conservation, according to the ministry and the municipality.

The center will facilitate cooperation between research institutes, maritime activity bodies, and civil, economic, security and academic infrastructure in Haifa Bay.

Blue economy refers to the sustainable and integrated development of economic sectors in healthy oceans, as defined by the World Bank.