Ocean Solutions That Benefit People, Nature and the Economy

The report highlights the interconnectedness between ocean health, human well-being, and global prosperity. Oceans play a pivotal role in sustaining life, producing half of the planet's oxygen, absorbing 93% of anthropogenic heat, and regulating the global climate. Despite these critical functions, human activities such as overfishing, pollution, and habitat destruction have caused significant damage, threatening biodiversity and undermining the livelihoods of millions dependent on marine resources.

The ocean economy generates over $1.5 trillion annually, supporting industries like fishing, shipping, tourism, and energy production. Yet, poor management has reduced the ocean's capacity to regenerate, exacerbating climate change and depleting critical resources. Vulnerable populations, particularly in coastal communities, face mounting challenges, including rising sea levels, depleted fish stocks, and loss of income, all disproportionately affecting marginalized groups.

To address these challenges, the report advocates for a sustainable ocean economy built on three core principles: effective protection of marine ecosystems, sustainable use of resources, and equitable sharing of benefits. This approach seeks to move beyond traditional conservation strategies that focus solely on minimizing harm or extractive models prioritizing short-term gains. Instead, it emphasizes proactive and integrated management of human activities to restore ocean health while creating economic opportunities.

Realizing this vision requires a substantial change in ocean governance and policy. The report identifies five foundational actions to drive this transformation: utilizing data and science to inform decisions, implementing goal-oriented marine spatial planning, mobilizing sustainable investments, addressing land-based pollution sources, and reforming economic metrics to account for the ocean's true value. These measures aim to align economic activities with ecological sustainability, enabling the ocean to deliver more food and renewable energy by 2050 while contributing significantly to climate change mitigation and global poverty reduction.

The economic potential of sustainable ocean investments is substantial. For instance, allocating $2.8 trillion today across key areas—such as offshore wind energy, sustainable aquaculture, decarbonizing shipping, and mangrove restoration—could yield $15.5 trillion in net benefits by 2050. This represents a benefit-cost ratio exceeding 5:1, making sustainable ocean management both an ecological imperative and a sound economic strategy.

The report emphasizes that the ocean is neither "too big to fail" nor "too big to fix." Instead, it is central to addressing some of humanity’s most pressing challenges, including climate change, food security, and equitable development. By adopting an integrated and science-driven approach, stakeholders can harness the ocean’s potential to support a sustainable and prosperous future for all.