At the same time, accelerating climate pressures and nature loss expose ocean-dependent markets, communities and infrastructure to escalating risks. The investment case, therefore, hinges on doing two things at once: allocating capital toward opportunity areas and actively managing ocean exposure so returns are not undermined. Despite its scale and strategic relevance, the ocean economy remains relatively underallocated in global capital markets. It sits at the intersection of climate adaptation, resource efficiency, food security and infrastructure modernization – trends that are likely to persist regardless of the global growth cycle. For investors, the opportunity is not just thematic alignment; it is the chance to back assets and services that will be needed as constraints tighten, while pricing and managing ocean-related risk more explicitly. Capital is starting to move, albeit from a low base. Global green, social, sustainability and sustainability-linked (GSSS) bonds labeled with water or blue marks between 2015 and 2024 totaled $19 billion, with 58% issued in the period 2023-2024.8 This signals a recent and significant increase in interest in these investments. When governed and financed responsibly, the ocean economy offers one of the most credible pathways to align long-term investment performance with ecological resilience and economic necessity. This will require meaningful progress in ocean finance, including clearer investment theses and better tools to quantify and size opportunities across the ocean economy. Existing progress has focused on direct conservation and restoration,9 while others have highlighted project finance for both small- and large-scale infrastructure,10 insurance products to mitigate risks,11,12 the financing of early- stage innovation to scale up solutions,13,14 the reissuance of debt and bonds,15 or even economic growth16 and job creation projections.17 These recent publications help raise awareness around opportunities and financing methods, but have not yet driven the needed level of investment. With the private sector driving much of this investment, today’s business decisions will determine whether ocean-based growth undermines ocean health or poses an opportunity to transition towards models that conserve and restore it while driving long-term business value, social prosperity and resilience. To maximize the sustainable growth of the ocean economy, businesses and capital providers must begin to: –Recognize both existing/potentially unintentional and future exposure to the ocean economy, as well as its risks, and how to mitigate them. –Better understand the opportunity to make more intentional plays in the ocean space and be early movers on industries with potential for growth and demonstrated need for partners and financing.The ocean economy in numbers FIGURE 1 80% Over 3 billion$3 trillion Over 95%2.75 billion 120%of global trade volumes are transported by sea, underpinning the gloabl economy people globally depend on seafood as a significant source of protein and other essential micronutrientsThe estimated annual economic value of ocean-based industries every year by 2030 of international communications are carried throught submarine fiber optic cablespeople or over a third of the world population live within 100 km of the coast The expected increase in ocean sector employment between 2010 and 2030 The Ocean Economy Imperative: Defining Value, Managing Risk and Mobilizing Investment 5

Ocean Economy Imperative 2026