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In an era of climate transition, food insecurity, and biodiversity crisis, the ocean emerges as a strategic asset for companies that want to be competitive, resilient, and relevant in the 21st century.
In an era of climate transition, food insecurity, and biodiversity crisis, the ocean emerges as a strategic asset for companies that want to be competitive, resilient, and relevant in the 21st century.
We are at the gates of the United Nations Ocean Conference (Nice, 9-13 June 2025), preceded by the celebration of World Oceans Day (8 June), an annual milestone established by the UN to remember the vital role that the oceans play in climate balance, food, biodiversity, and the global economy. This year, the announcement of the European Ocean Pact, to be presented by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on the first day of the conference, is of special relevance. This pact comes as a response to an old need: the creation of a coherent and transversal political framework that brings together all the maritime policies of the European Union.
The proposal for the European Ocean Pact was born from a coalition of entities led by the Oceano Azul Foundation and the Europe Jacques Delors think tank. The objective is clear: to integrate the multiple dimensions of the ocean – ecological, economic, social, and cultural – into a single policy instrument with a strategic vision. The Pact promises to align efforts to restore the health of the oceans, boost the competitiveness of the Blue Economy, strengthen maritime safety, and promote a regenerative economy in the European maritime space. The document proposes an action plan for the period 2025-2030 and will be the starting point for a new European ambition at sea.
In this context, it is crucial to understand that the ocean is not just a physical space. It is a critical natural infrastructure, an essential climate system, an economic engine with high innovation potential, and a foundation for geopolitical security. Without the ocean, there is no climate regulation, no atmospheric circulation, not enough oxygen, and no stable biodiversity. Its degradation is the degradation of the minimum conditions of life on the planet. As Tiago Pitta e Cunha, CEO of the Oceano Azul Foundation, says: "The ocean is an orphan of international governance. It needs something like the Paris Agreement."
The Blue Economy has been consolidating itself as one of the most dynamic vectors of the European economy. According to the latest EU Blue Economy Report 2025, the EU's blue economy generated almost €891 billion in turnover in 2022 and employed 4.82 million people. In 2023, the growth trend continued, with Gross Value Added (GVA) reaching €263 billion. Sectors such as coastal tourism, marine renewable energy (with emphasis on offshore wind), maritime transport, and blue biotechnology are among the fastest growing in value and innovation.
For example, the offshore wind sector increased its GVA by 42% between 2021 and 2022, reaching €5.3 billion, and profits rose by 56%. The EU already has 18.9 GW of installed capacity, enough to power more than 6 million homes – figures that illustrate the transformative potential of sea-based technologies.
More recently, emerging areas such as blue biotechnology (with applications in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and nutrition), smart desalination, autonomous maritime digital systems, marine biofuels, and nature-based solutions for coastal protection (such as algae plantations and wetland restoration) are attracting interest from investors and policymakers.
In Portugal, SDG 14 - Life Below Water - represents one of the most ambitious commitments but also one of the most challenging to achieve. Despite legislative and diplomatic advances, concrete progress on indicators such as marine habitat protection, illegal fishing control, and funding for ocean research has been limited. Portugal has exceptional conditions to lead in SDG 14, but there is still a lack of a strategic and systemic effort to connect the multiple existing actors.
Promising examples already exist:
1. Fórum Oceano, who leads the sea cluster in Portugal, has promoted innovation networks and internationalization of the blue economy.
2. The Blue Bio Value program supports startups with marine biotechnology and circular economy solutions in the ocean.
3. Research centers of excellence, such as MARE, CCMAR, the Okeanos Institute, and CIIMAR, produce cutting-edge knowledge on biodiversity, coastal ecosystems, and new marine bioindustries.
4. Impact startups such as Oceano Fresco, which works with sustainable bivalve aquaculture, or AquaInSilico, which uses digital modeling to optimize aquatic biological processes.
Despite these initiatives, investment is still fragmented, and the articulation between the public sector, universities, the financial sector, and industry is insufficient to respond to the challenges of scale. The country lacks an integrated national strategy for the Regenerative Blue Economy, with measurable targets, tax incentives, structured financing, and binding targets for companies and public entities.
For businesses, the ocean is both a challenge and an opportunity. It makes a robust business case across several dimensions:
- Source of disruptive innovation: marine carbon capture technologies, algae-based alternative foods, new biodegradable materials, and smart ocean sensors, among others.
- Managing physical and reputational risks: companies exposed to coastal risks (tourism, energy, infrastructure) can reduce losses and strengthen their climate resilience.
- Creating shared value: operating in the ocean allows you to generate positive environmental and social impacts, which is essential for ESG-based business models and sustainable finance.
- Access to green finance: the European Taxonomy of Sustainable Finance includes activities linked to marine protection and the sustainable blue economy, creating conditions to attract institutional capital.
- International competitiveness: With 90% of world trade dependent on maritime transport and 99% of transatlantic digital connections taking place via submarine cables, the ocean is a key geo-economic hub.
Investing in the ocean is strategic intelligence. As several economists point out, the ocean's positive externalities—from carbon sequestration to protection against natural disasters—have measurable economic value, and ignoring them is a miscalculation for any CEO who thinks long-term.
Companies can — and should — actively contribute to the ocean's regenerative agenda by:
- Integrating marine objectives into its climate and biodiversity plans.
- Establishing partnerships with foundations and specialized research centers (such as the Oceano Azul Foundation and FAM Foundation).
- Supporting marine restoration projects and marine protected areas.
- Participating in collaborative blue innovation platforms and voluntary blue carbon credits.
- Developing sustainable products and services based on marine resources.
It is time to move from an extractive approach to a Regenerative Blue Economy—one that views the ocean not as a resource to be exploited but as a vital partner to be restored and protected. This transformation demands a multisectoral commitment involving governments, businesses, academia, and civil society. Taking this into account, the CRBL will be cooperating with Fórum Oceano to explore ways to advance SDG 14 in Portugal, including the development of compelling business cases for companies. No single actor can restore marine ecosystems or secure intergenerational justice in access to ocean commons—it must always be done in cooperation. The ocean requires vision. And vision requires leadership. For CEOs who want to successfully navigate the challenges of the future, integrating the ocean into business strategy is more than an option—it is a necessity.
Have a great and impactful week!
Mafalda Sarmento
Sustainability Officer at CATÓLICA-LISBON
Executive Director at Pacto para a Gestão da Água em Portugal
Researcher and Consultant at the Center for Responsible Business and Leadership