Sustainable Ocean for All

The ocean is a new economic frontier. For developing countries, expanding the ocean economy can help boost employment, reduce poverty and enhance food security. At the same time, climate change, pollution, overfishing, and other unprecedented pressures from human activity are pushing the health of oceans to a tipping point. If not addressed, this will put at risk the long-term economic benefits that the oceans can deliver as well as the resources on which all life ultimately depends.

Moving from an ocean economy to a sustainable ocean economy is thus critical to preserve the health of the oceans and ensure the world’s future prosperity. It entails achieving sustainability across all dimensions - economic, social and environmental, and promoting existing as well as new sectors, such as ocean renewable energy and biotechnology.

Sustainable Oceans for All is the first OECD dedicated project on the ocean economy and developing countries. It brings together OECD’s multi-disciplinary expertise to support developing countries address pressures on oceans and marine ecosystem services (e.g. pollution, over-fishing, climate change, habitat degradation) and chart a new course for sustainable development to tackle poverty, unemployment and food insecurity. It expands developing countries’ access to the knowledge, innovations, and financial resources needed for promoting a sustainable ocean economy