By Abbas Nazil
The ocean, the world’s largest carbon sink and source of half of the planet’s oxygen, is also one of the biggest employers, supporting at least 133 million jobs as of 2019.
A new Blue Paper by the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy warns, however, that the future of ocean employment is in flux and decisions made today will shape both livelihoods and the ocean’s ecological health.
The report highlights that marine and coastal tourism is currently the largest ocean-based employer, followed by fisheries, aquaculture, and marine transportation.
Yet growth potential lies in new sectors such as marine renewable energy, which could create as many as 1.2 million jobs by 2050.
At the same time, industries such as offshore oil and gas are expected to face steep declines, requiring significant workforce reskilling and adaptation, especially in developing regions.
The Ocean Panel projects that if the transition to a sustainable ocean economy succeeds, employment could grow to more than 184 million jobs by mid-century.
New opportunities will emerge in sustainable fisheries, ecotourism, conservation, environmental finance, marine data analytics, and carbon removal.
Ocean-based carbon removal techniques such as alkalinity enhancement and large-scale algae cultivation are seen as vital to meeting global net-zero targets.
However, without a transition, the world risks losing 40 million jobs compared with the 2019 baseline, worsening inequalities and exposing vulnerable communities.
The report stresses that climate change itself will remain a defining factor.
For instance, the weakening of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation could drastically disrupt fisheries and tourism in Europe.
Ultimately, the paper concludes that societal, political, and economic choices today will determine whether the ocean economy fosters sustainable production, environmental protection, and better livelihoods for millions worldwide.
