At the recent UN Ocean Conference in Nice, $10B in ocean investment commitments were announced—far below the $175B/year needed to protect marine ecosystems and build a sustainable blue economy.
Despite growing interest, unclear regulation remains a major barrier for private capital. As Oliver Withers (Standard Chartered) noted:
“The high seas don’t belong to any one sovereign. That presents a unique challenge.”
Only 50 countries have ratified the 2023 High Seas Treaty. The U.S. is notably absent. Lack of enforceable rules and robust data is holding back private investment, which remains dwarfed by public sector funding.
Francine Pickup (UNDP) said:
“Public finance isn’t enough. But private finance is even less. This sector is in its infancy.”
Between 2020–2025, ocean tech captured just 0.4% of $202B in climate-related investments. To fix this, we need:
Clear regulation (esp. on overfishing, mining, pollution)
Stronger policy incentives
Investable blue tech pipelines
As BNP Paribas’ Robert-Alexandre Poujade put it:
“We need a treaty with teeth and enforcement.”
There are signs of progress: 20+ countries backed a moratorium on deep-sea mining; new Marine Protected Areas were created. But real momentum requires action—not just pledges.
As Seychelles’ Minister Flavien Joubert said:
“The ocean has been the last area we pillage without thinking about tomorrow.”
Let’s change that—before it’s too late.
