Investment interest in ocean conservation and sustainable marine industries is surging, as the blue economy emerges as a critical pathway to address climate change, biodiversity loss, and economic transformation. At the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi, global leaders and ocean advocates highlighted the unprecedented focus on marine ecosystems and the urgent need for patient capital to support long-term regenerative business models.
The shift is significant. Five years ago, ocean issues received little attention at major international platforms such as the World Economic Forum or Climate Week in New York. Today, they occupy center stage in global discussions, with new technologies and entrepreneurial solutions driving large-scale sustainable transitions. The transformation must occur within a relatively short timeline of 20 to 30 years, making innovation and disruptive entrepreneurship essential components of the blue economy transition.
Cynthia Barzuna, Global Deputy Director of the Ocean Program at the World Resources Institute, emphasised the growing recognition of oceans as humanity’s greatest ally in confronting what she described as the triple planetary crisis. “The ocean is a major ally in tackling the climate and biodiversity crises, as well as addressing overfishing,” Barzuna said. Barzuna expressed hope that Indian Ocean nations will join initiatives such as the 100% Alliance, led by Chile and Australia, which encourages countries to sustainably manage waters under their jurisdiction.
Despite this momentum, ocean-related Sustainable Development Goals remain the least funded among all SDG targets, underscoring the need to scale up ocean investment and strengthen conservation practices.The panel discussion stressed that effective transformation requires balanced policies informed by science but implemented by businesses.
Rather than positioning business against conservation, regenerative models can align economic, social, and environmental outcomes. The key lies not in the rate of return itself, but in reshaping expectations around investment timelines, as regenerative business models typically deliver returns over longer horizons – requiring patient, sustained capital.
Visible recovery in protected marine areas offers tangible hope, while community initiatives, such as teaching young girls in coastal regions to swim, are connecting new generations to marine ecosystems and fostering a sense of stewardship. The recent ratification of the BBNJ Agreement, also known as the High Seas Treaty, marks another milestone in global ocean governance. As one interconnected ecosystem, the ocean requires coordinated global engagement to achieve sustainable governance at scale.
