Mary Ray, Unslpash
The Ocean Economy Imperative: Defining Value, Managing Risk and Mobilizing Investment
World Economic Forum, McKinsey & Company Energy Solutions Fisheries & Aquaculture Shipping & Ports
As the global economy adjusts to slower growth, tighter constraints and rapid change, attention is increasingly turning to the next sources of durable, risk-adjusted value. The ocean economy stands out as underexplored yet increasingly strategic – supporting global trade, food production, energy systems, tourism and digital infrastructure, while opening new pathways for innovation and value creation. As businesses and investors confront their growing exposure through supply chains, infrastructure, logistics and coastal assets, demand is rising for partners, capital and longterm investment across both established and emerging ocean sectors.
This matters now because the conditions that once obscured the ocean economy’s relevance are shifting. Resource efficiency, resilience and adaptability are becoming core drivers of competitiveness, and ocean-based sectors sit at their intersection while also operating without many of the constraints of land-based systems. Recognizing existing exposure to the ocean economy is a necessary first step in managing risk, protecting value and improving decision-making. Equally important is the opportunity to move early, helping shape industries that are still forming, influencing standards and partnerships, and positioning capital where long-term demand and structural need converge.
This paper aims to shift the conversation from awareness to action – from seeing the ocean primarily as an environmental concern to engaging with it as a foundation of economic resilience and long-term value creation. The ocean economy’s future will be shaped by decisions made today: how risks are anticipated, opportunities identified and collaboration used to enable scale. The World Economic Forum looks forward to working with partners to realize the ocean economy’s untapped potential for people, markets and the planet.
Read the full paper here.