How the ocean economy sustains livelihoods and ecosystems

Dr Francis Vorhies

The theme for World Oceans Day 2025, celebrated annually on the 8th of June, is ‘Wonder: Sustaining what sustains us’. The hosts, the United Nations (UN) Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, introduces this theme as follows: The ocean is our world’s greatest wonder, a seemingly endless source of sustenance, potential, wisdom, and awe. From the marine life that produces our oxygen, medicines, and food, to its natural infrastructures that sequester carbon and buffer shores, every diverse element of the ocean—across both its biodiversity and composition—supports humanity in a multitude of ways. The wonder of the ocean’s support for humanity, and hence the need to use its resources sustainability is also a core theme of the 2025 UN Ocean Conference following on from the Oceans Day event immediately in Nice, France. A highlight of the Conference will be an action panel on advancing sustainable ocean-based economies and coastal community resilience.

Economy 

The concept paper prepared by the UN Secretariat for this panel contains information on the economic contribution of the oceans which could only be described as wonderful:

• The ocean economy is about 4% of the global economy doubling over the last two decades and growing at a faster rate than the rest of the global economy.
• If the ocean were a country, it would rank alongside France and the UK as one of the largest economies in the world with a value of at least $2.6 trillion.
• At least 600 million livelihoods depend on the ocean economy.
• International trade in ocean goods and services has been reaching record levels.
• Major sectors of the ocean economy are linked directly to the use of wild marine species, notably marine-based tourism and primary marine fisheries.

Africa

In Africa, the wonder of the ocean economy is its amazing contribution to economic development and rural livelihoods. The African Development Bank has estimated that the fisheries sector generates $24 billion annually and provides jobs for 12 million people. The Nairobi Convention also highlights the potential for coastal and marine tourism, noting that in South Africa alone it is expected to contribute $1.4 billion and provide for 116,000 jobs by 2026. The African Union (AU) is projecting that this economy will be worth at least $400 billion by 2030 and provide over 55 million job opportunities. Hence, the AU has established a Blue Economy Division with the aim of optimising existing sectors of the blue economy and unlocking new sectors. The African oceans (within the Exclusive Economic Zones) cover about 13 million square kilometres compared to the continent’s landmass of about 30 million square kilometres. Africa’s coastline stretches about 30,000 kilometres and approximately 150 million people live in coastal areas. Africa’s ocean economy has the potential to lift millions of people out of poverty through the production of a vast array marine-based goods and services—that is, if this economy can grow sustainably. All the usual challenges facing our oceans will be addressed at the upcoming UN Ocean Conference.

Climate

These include worsening climate change impacts; plastic waste; the scourge of illegal, unreported and unregulated industrial fishing; the potentially devastating effects that overtourism; and the spread of invasive species. Can these threats to a sustainable ocean economy be tackled? Can marine ecosystems be protected and wild marine resources harvested sustainably? The ocean economy is a highly complex system and the Conference’s concept paper rightly concludes that “Holistic policies and integrated management are needed to ensure healthy and productive ocean ecosystems, while enabling the long-term sustainable use of marine and coastal resources. Identifying the multitude of threats, assessing their diverse impacts, developing holistic policies, and implementing integrated management systems is no easy task.

For many, it may seem so daunting that they despair at the possibility of ever finding sustainable solutions. Facing these challenges, the hosts of World Oceans Day 2025 rightly respond: If the warnings haven’t motivated us, wonder is what will. The ocean’s wonder is what draws us in and often drives our desire to protect it…. In the face of increasingly daunting challenges, the act of wondering serves to remind us that we are part of something bigger. It wakes us up to our inherent connection to the earth and to each other…The ocean economy unlocks this wonder to the millions of people living in Africa’s coastal areas. It opens the ocean to entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors; to small and medium enterprises; and to markets across the continent and beyond. With good governance, inclusive access, accountability, and transparency, a modern-day ocean economy can preserve the wonders of the ocean for generations to come. Yes, it is complex and challenging, but it is indeed a wonderful opportunity.

*Vorhies is the co-director of the African Wildlife Economy Institute at Stellenbosch University.

Weekend Argus