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Seaweed can help boost livelihoods, tackle climate change and bridge the gender divide.The global seaweed market tripled in the past two decades, hitting $17 billion in 2021, representing a small but rapidly expanding slice of the fisheries and marine resources sector.Women are increasingly playing leading roles in the seaweed sector, running about 40% of start-ups.Seaweed, a versatile marine macroalgae, can immensely contribute to climate action, food security and gender equality, according to ...

Global fishing fleets, powered mainly by fossil fuels such as marine diesel, emit between 0.1% to 0.5% of global carbon emissions, or up to 159 million tons annually, according to the latest available data. The fisheries sector, crucial for the livelihoods of more than 40 million people worldwide, faces escalating threats from climate change. These include rising sea levels and warming waters that jeopardize fishing ports and deplete fish stocks. The risks are particularly high for developing co...

In 2022, a political road map “our ocean, our future, our responsibility” was adopted at 2nd United Nations Ocean Conference in Lisbon in July 2022. Additionaly, the 4th UN Oceans Forum called for a global "Blue Deal" was made at the 4th UN Oceans Forum in Geneva in April 2022.

After 15 years of negotiations, UN member states agreed on landmark new treaty on 4 March to protect marine biodiversity on the high seas. The treaty will be formally adopted soon. When it enters into force, the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement will address biodiversity loss and ecosystems degradation due to climate change impacts, pollution and unsustainable use. It must be ratified by 60 member states to enter into force.

Background note: It is only through synchronous layers of capacity development – from entry-level approaches for the wider public to knowledge-sharing between experts and high-level decision-makers and government officials – that the diffusion of Ocean Knowledge will turn into Ocean Action. While the urgency and timeliness of capacity development has been increasingly acknowledged internationally and regionally, knowledge on the ocean economy remains somewhat fragmented.

In its current form, globalization has exacerbated inequalities. Globalization 2.0 must address the political ramifications and power imbalance of these cleavages, particularly in trade, data and technology, finance, tax, and climate change policies.