Much of the private sector is connected to the ocean economy, often without fully recognizing it. To capture opportunities and avoid mispriced risk, businesses and capital providers should: –Conduct market research to explore opportunities in high-growth ocean sectors and investment theses. Many of these themes offer potential early-mover advantages, access to favorable finance, and a reliable project pipeline. –Consider blue financial instruments to tap into emerging opportunities – although nascent, these instruments have demonstrated strong market demand and even instances of oversubscription in recent years. –Assess existing ocean exposure and take action to mitigate related risks as a foundation for sustained investment. For capital providers, this could involve portfolio reevaluation to ensure risks are accurately priced. Business owners could similarly assess direct and indirect exposure, such as shipping delays or outages, and strengthen resilience through insurance and operational measures. –Establish themselves as an ocean champion within ocean economy networks by showcasing ocean-positive business strategies, joining global dialogue and collaborating with peers.Across the ocean economy, companies are looking for practical ways to manage climate and nature risks while strengthening resilience and increasing business value. Progress remains fragmented and below the scale required. The World Economic Forum helps coordinate action through it’s initiative, Accelerating Critical Transformations for the Ocean (ACT Ocean), by: –Supporting businesses in key ocean sectors like energy, ports and shipping, food and tourism to identify concrete actions that conserve and restore ocean health while improving business performance and creating opportunities for the economy and communities. –Providing a platform that fosters collaborations between businesses, governments, financial institutions, academia and civil society to share knowledge, test and scale solutions that drive systemic change for ecological and social impact. –Shaping the future of the ocean economy and its contributions to the global economy by anticipating and supporting technological, policy and financial breakthroughs that enable transformations at scale.4Next steps for businesses and capital providers The Ocean Economy Imperative: Defining Value, Managing Risk and Mobilizing Investment 16

Ocean Economy Imperative 2026