The ocean economy has been growing globally for the past twenty-five years, spurring hundreds of millions of direct jobs, with ocean resources sustaining billions of people. However, this growth has unprecedented impacts on the marine environment.

As the role of a healthy ocean in climate and biodiversity processes become ever more evident, effective ocean policies require a commitment to sustainable use, conservation, and restoration of marine ecosystems. Policymakers can harness socio-economic opportunities offered by the ocean, while preserving the marine environment nationally and globally. The OECD has evidence and good practices to share to help countries effectively balance better their economic, social and environmental objectives from local to global levels.

The ocean economy encompasses all activities that occur on the ocean, depend on its natural resources, or benefit from its proximity. Monitoring these activities and their impacts is essential for informed decision-making. Measures of ocean economic activity form the basis for comprehensive ocean accounts that integrate economic, social and environmental dimensions. The OECD collaborates with countries to enhance their ocean economy measurement strategies, aiming to improve decision-making and develop new internationally comparable statistical resources for cross-country analysis to support national and international processes, such as new ocean governance agreements and 30x30 initiatives. 

Marine data, often collected through publicly funded marine observing systems, are the cornerstone of ocean knowledge and sound ocean economy management.

OECD surveys reveal that value chains enabled by public marine data yield transformative societal benefits in marine spatial planning, conservation, disaster risk reduction, renewable energy, transport, ocean literacy, and pharmaceuticals. Developing further sustained ocean observing systems – from hydrographic to biological data – and data sharing policies are crucial for science and stakeholders across many value chains in OECD and developing countries. This goes hand in hand with improving communication of ocean data collected by academic and private stakeholders. The OECD supports countries in exploring the rationale and practical ways to rolling-out and improving ocean observing systems with effective data dissemination strategies.

Science, technology, and innovation are crucial for shifting from harmful ocean exploitation to sustainable ocean practices. 

Improved understanding of ocean processes, marine ecosystems, and their role in climate change and biodiversity loss is essential. Despite advances in ocean research and technology with disruptive digital technologies, negative impacts on marine environments are still emerging with major consequences on our societies still hard to fathom. The OECD highlights the importance of transformative actions to fully leverage the benefits of ocean science, technology, and innovation for sustainable development in the ocean and beyond.

As the ocean economy grows and ocean health issues escalate, identifying emerging trends and anticipating their future effects can help policymakers mitigate key risks and seize unrecognised opportunities.

Using socio-economic modelling and extensive innovative ocean economy databases, the OECD is collaborating with key stakeholders to develop resilient policy designs that address the complexities of ocean economic development and environmental deterioration. Foresight analysis conducted as part of the OECD Ocean Economy Monitor is a useful addition to the ocean policymaking toolkit and can help governments strategically guide developments towards more sustainable ocean economies.