Ocean Economy Imperative 2026

This growth is expected to moderate towards 2050, and will be driven by two areas: established, fast-scaling investment themes – such as aquaculture, desalination and water treatment, decarbonization and digital infrastructure; and emerging industries, including biotech and other early-stage innovations. Several incumbent ocean economy sectors have long driven growth, illustrating the ocean’s steady – and often fast- paced – pipeline of opportunities and returns for businesses and capital providers alike (Table 1).2Ocean economy opportunities Growth of global ocean economic activity vs the rest of the world economy FIGURE 3 100120140160180200220260 248 193240 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020Global ocean economic activity growth Index 1995 = 100, 1995-2020 Global ocean economic activity The rest of the world economy Source: UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) 2025 based on OECD Ocean Economy Monitor, preliminary estimates, June 2024.Many parts of the ocean economy offer impressive opportunities for economic development with attractive returns. The ocean economy has consistently grown at a faster pace than the overall economy, a trend that has not only stayed constant but exacerbated in recent years, with ocean economic activity growing to 1.3 times that of the rest of the world economy in 2020 (Figure 3).33 The Ocean Economy Imperative: Defining Value, Managing Risk and Mobilizing Investment 9