Many developing countries rely heavily on ocean-based industries such as tourism and fisheries but capture only a small share of the global value added of the ocean economy. The ocean offers untapped opportunities for developing countries to boost employment, reduce poverty, and enhance food security. At the same time, climate change, pollution, overfishing, and other unprecedented pressures from human activity are pushing the health of oceans to a tipping point. If not addressed, these could threaten not only the long-term economic benefits of the ocean but also the resource base on which all life ultimately depends.

The Sustainable Ocean for All Initiative brings together OECD’s multi-disciplinary expertise to help developing countries address pressures on oceans and marine ecosystem services, and chart a new course for sustainable development by tackling poverty, unemployment and food insecurity. It expands developing countries’ access to the knowledge, innovations and financial resources needed for promoting a sustainable ocean economy.

The ocean economy is vast, encompassing multiple sectors and policy issues.

It is also constantly evolving, with emerging sectors such as offshore and marine renewable energy and marine biotechnology opening new development opportunities.

To unlock those opportunities while managing increasing pressures, developing countries must look at the ocean economy holistically.

That is why the Sustainable Ocean for All Initiative takes an integrated, cross-sectoral approach.

1. Guidance for ocean-related development co-operation: Provide guidance to inform ocean-related development assistance and promote mutual exchange, learning, and coordination between countries and the entire development cooperation ecosystem focused on ocean sustainability.
2. Data on development finance for oceans: Track and analyse development assistance, private finance mobilised and philanthropic contributions for the ocean economy, including for curbing plastic pollution.
3. Country level analysis and policy advice: Provide holistic assessments of countries ocean economies and recommendations on policies and financing tools to develop the ocean economy more sustainably, through the Sustainable Ocean Economy Country Diagnostics and the Blue Recovery Hubs.
4. Thematic and region-specific studies: Carry out analysis of policy issues central to promoting a sustainable ocean economy, namely plastic pollution and innovative financing mechanisms, as well as on specific country-groups (e.g. SIDS, ASEAN).