3.2 Environmental degradation and limitations is forcing a re-think and redesign on how value is being created and protected today from the ocean
The current methods of creating value and interacting with the ocean are unsustainable, and existing ocean industries will need to adapt their practices to comply with stricter regulations and meet the rising demand for sustainable solutions.
Traditional ocean industries—fisheries, shipping, and energy—are reaching critical limits. Over 90% of global fisheries are fished beyond capacity or classified as overexploited, threatening marine biodiversity and livelihoods. Shipping, responsible for 90% of global trade by volume, produces 1 billion metric tons of CO₂ annually and increases underwater noise pollution by 3.3 decibels per decade. Offshore energy activities further degrade marine habitats, while plastic pollution adds to the strain. Each year, 11 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean, potentially rising to 29 million by 2040, causing severe harm to ecosystems and food webs.
Regulatory frameworks and sustainability initiatives are driving significant changes across ocean industries. Fisheries are adopting stricter quotas and advanced monitoring to ensure sustainable practices. Offshore renewables, supported by policies like the EU Offshore Renewable Energy Strategy, are scaling rapidly. The shipping industry is transitioning to cleaner fuels and efficient vessel designs under the IMO Greenhouse Gas Strategy, while mechanisms like the EU Carbon Border Adjustment enforce decarbonization in supply chains. Innovations in aquaculture are improving efficiency and reducing waste, and efforts to address plastic pollution are advancing with biodegradable materials and better waste management. These changes not only address the urgent need for more sustainable practices but also will require the ocean industries to fundamentally rethink and transform their business operations and value chains to align with a greener and more regulated ocean economy.
Rising global temperatures are reshaping marine environments and coastal areas, forcing ocean industries and governments to confront new challenges and adapt to the realities of a changing climate.
Rising global temperatures are significantly altering marine ecosystems worldwide. As an example, over the past decade, the Arctic alone has warmed by 0.75 °C, leading to a 17% drop in summer sea ice between 2013 and 2019. By 2035, the Arctic Ocean is projected to experience ice-free summers, creating opportunities for new shipping routes and resource extraction but intensifying ecological risks. Simultaneously, warming oceans could slow the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), potentially altering weather patterns, accelerating sea-level rise, and increasing the risk of coastal flooding. Currently, global sea levels are rising by 3.4 millimeters per year, threatening communities, and infrastructure across the globe.
To address these challenges, industries and governments must focus on a combination of climate adaptation, mitigation, and protection. This includes resilient infrastructure, improved coastal planning, and robust flood defenses to safeguard populations and economic assets. Early warning systems and disaster preparedness will help manage the impacts of storm surges and other climate-related extremes. Simultaneously, advancing climate change mitigation solutions, such as carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies, will be critical for reducing emissions and combating the root causes of climate change. These challenges and opportunities are driving the development of a new market dedicated to climate adaptation, mitigation, and protection and will require ocean industries to adopt innovative, climate-resilient practices to balance economic development with environmental protection.
The scarcity of land and increasing global demand for resources are driving a shift toward offshore environments, positioning the sea as an increasingly important space for energy production, urban development, and food systems.
As land becomes scarcer and global demand for resources grows, offshore environments are emerging as essential alternatives for scaling energy, infrastructure, and agriculture. Coastal regions, pressured by rising urbanization and climate challenges, are increasingly turning to the sea to reduce competition for land. This shift is global: in the Indian Subcontinent, demand for offshore space for aquaculture and energy is projected to grow 50-fold, while in North America and the Middle East and North Africa, similar needs are expected to rise 30-fold.
Energy production illustrates this shift. Onshore energy infrastructure requires substantial land, with 1 GW of power—enough for a city of one million people—needing around 10,000 hectares for solar farms or 33,000 hectares for wind farms. As land becomes harder to secure, the ocean is being explored as a scalable solution for energy production. Emerging technologies like floating solar panels and tidal or wave energy are being developed to reduce reliance on land-based systems. This exploration extends beyond energy. Urban development and food systems are also turning to the sea for solutions. With 40% of the global population living in coastal areas, floating infrastructure is being explored to expand urban capacity and address rising sea levels. Similarly, offshore aquaculture and vertical farming are exploring ways to increase seafood, algae, and sustainable feed production, addressing land and water constraints while meeting growing global food demands. These are just a few examples of how industries are adapting to land scarcity and rising consumer demands.
3.3 Increase in geopolitical tensions will put more pressure on the protection, exploration, and extraction of ocean key assets
Rising geopolitical tensions are reshaping maritime security, leading nations, and industries to strengthen their defense efforts to protect ocean assets, trade routes, and critical infrastructure.
Key maritime chokepoints remain vulnerable, with the Suez Canal blockage in January 2024 delaying USD 10 billion worth of goods daily and highlighting the fragility of global trade routes. High-risk areas like the Strait of Hormuz, responsible for 20% of global oil and gas flows, and piracy near the Horn of Africa, costing more than USD 7 billion annually, emphasize the urgency of addressing these threats. The melting Arctic ice adds another layer of complexity, opening new shipping routes such as the Northern Sea Route, which reduces Europe-Asia shipping distances by up to 40% but introduces territorial disputes and ecological concerns. Meanwhile, the Russia-Ukraine conflict has escalated tensions, particularly in the Baltic and Black Seas, further exposing vulnerabilities in global maritime security.
In response to these challenges, a new wave of maritime defense surveillance and monitoring innovation is underway. Nations and industries are ramping up military activity and investing in advanced technologies to protect critical infrastructure and secure trade routes. Autonomous surveillance systems are being deployed to monitor vast ocean territories, while ice-class vessels are enabling safer navigation in Arctic waters. Enhanced cybersecurity measures are being implemented to safeguard undersea telecommunications cables and other critical networks from cyber threats. Naval deployments have increased significantly, with defense budgets rising across Europe, particularly in the Nordic and Baltic regions. These increases are largely driven by the Russia-Ukraine war and NATO’s requirement for member countries to allocate at least 2% of GDP to defense by 2025. Furthermore, public and private investments in the space, including a EUR 1 billion Innovation Fund for dual-use technologies, are accelerating the development of next-generation maritime defense systems.
The race to secure critical materials is driving countries and industries to focus on ocean-based exploration, extraction activities, and innovations to ensure self-sufficiency and reduce reliance on traditional supply chains.
Geopolitical tensions, trade wars and rising protectionism are intensifying the focus on securing critical materials and countries' self-sufficiency. Resources such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements—essential for renewable energy technologies, batteries, and ocean-related industries—are increasingly under pressure due to overdependence on processing hubs like China. These materials have become focal points in trade disputes, amplifying concerns over resource security and prompting new strategies to diversify sources.
The ocean is emerging as a vital frontier in this race for critical materials. Countries and industries are turning to deep-sea exploration and extraction to tap into vast reserves of essential minerals found on the ocean floor, such as polymetallic nodules rich in cobalt, nickel, and manganese. Innovations in technology and engineering are enabling more efficient and sustainable access to these underwater resources, though environmental considerations remain a challenge that must be addressed. This focus on ocean-based resources is also driving efforts to develop new technologies for exploration and processing, reduce dependencies on traditional supply chains, and discover alternative materials.
3.4 New technologies and advancements in science and engineering are making new ocean solutions possible
Advancements in technology are unlocking new capabilities in ocean exploration, monitoring, and utilization, transforming how industries interact with the marine environment.
Breakthroughs in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), satellites, sensors, Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), and Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) are enabling unprecedented access to ocean data and operations. These technologies are driving innovation across marine industries, enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and precision in activities ranging from energy production to aquaculture and conservation.
For example, AI is transforming decision-making in ocean industries by analyzing vast datasets to predict fish stocks, optimize maintenance schedules for offshore wind farms, and improve precision aquaculture systems. IoT-enabled sensors provide real-time monitoring of ocean conditions such as temperature, salinity, and currents, enhancing climate modeling and improving operations in aquaculture and marine logistics. Satellites offer high-resolution mapping of the ocean floor, supporting better planning for seabed mining, offshore infrastructure, and monitoring illegal activities such as unregulated fishing and oil spills. ROVs and AUVs are extending the reach of ocean exploration, enabling detailed studies of marine biodiversity, and conducting environmental impact assessments with greater accuracy. These are just a few of the many ways technology is reshaping ocean industries. From next-generation materials for underwater construction to new methods of deep-sea mining, tech advancements will continue to unlock new possibilities.
Advances in research and science are revealing new ways to harness the ocean’s natural elements, driving practical applications across industries like biotechnology, energy, manufacturing, and medicine.
Advances in science are revealing innovative ways to harness marine resources—such as algae, microorganisms, minerals, and sediments—spurring new applications in industries like pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, energy, and manufacturing. This research is increasing the value of ocean assets by enabling their practical and efficient use.
Algae, for instance, is emerging as a versatile resource for producing biofuels, bioplastics, and high-protein food products, reducing reliance on land-based alternatives. Marine fungi and microorganisms are showing potential in developing treatments for antibiotic-resistant infections and cancer, expanding possibilities in medicine. Ocean sediments are being studied for their natural ability to sequester carbon dioxide, offering a promising tool for mitigating climate change. Advances in marine biotechnology are also enabling the extraction of valuable enzymes and biochemicals for industrial processes, while ocean-degradable bioplastics are helping tackle plastic pollution. Additionally, materials derived from captured CO₂ are opening new opportunities to address emissions while adding economic value. These are just a few examples of how scientific advancements are unlocking new ways to harness ocean resources. As research continues, more applications will emerge, further integrating marine-derived materials and processes into industries beyond biotechnology, energy, and manufacturing.
Innovative engineering is unlocking new possibilities for resource exploration, ocean engagement and the discovery of new ways of creating value from the ocean assets.
Breakthroughs in engineering are transforming how we utilize the ocean, addressing challenges that were once considered as impossible. Floating wind turbines now enable wind farms to operate in deep waters, far from the coast, accessing stronger and more consistent winds while eliminating the need for seabed structures. Underwater desalination systems are addressing global water scarcity by using natural ocean pressure to reduce energy consumption. Modular nuclear reactors on floating platforms provide reliable power to remote or offshore locations where traditional energy solutions are impractical.
Wave and tidal converters are leveraging ocean movements to generate renewable energy, filling gaps where wind or solar power is inconsistent. Corrosion-resistant materials are improving the longevity and efficiency of underwater infrastructure, supporting projects like offshore pipelines and tidal energy systems. Advanced 3D mapping technologies are enabling precise exploration of the ocean floor, streamlining infrastructure development, resource extraction, and environmental monitoring. Additionally, robotics, autonomous systems, and specialized vessels are unlocking access to previously inaccessible ocean resources, including oil, gas, and minerals in extreme environments. These innovations are just a glimpse of how engineering is redefining what is possible in the ocean. As engineering advancements progress, new methods for exploration, energy production, and resource utilization will continue to emerge, expanding the economic and strategic value of ocean assets.