The Foundation of Prosperity: Why a Healthy Ocean is Essential for a Thriving Economy

When I reflect on my earliest memories of the ocean, I go back to a world of vibrant and colorful abundance. I remember diving with my grandfather, Jacques Cousteau, into waters teeming with life. Coral reefs flourished, fish schools shimmered like silver fireworks, and the ocean felt infinite in its capacity to provide. But as I grew older, I watched as that world began to unravel.

The decline has been undeniable. Year after year, the once-vibrant ecosystems I explored as a child have withered, and the communities that depend on them are left facing an uncertain future. The industries that have long profited from the ocean—fishing, oil, gas, shipping, and coastal development—are now reaping diminishing returns. The costs of a dying ocean have begun to outpace the benefits these industries once provided.

For decades, we've been told that exploiting our natural resources is necessary for economic growth, that jobs and prosperity depend on it. But this approach is short-sighted and, frankly, unsustainable. When we destroy the environment for short-term gains, we are not creating lasting wealth—we are robbing our children of their future.

A healthy ocean isn’t just about biodiversity or beauty—it’s the foundation of a thriving economy. It sequesters carbon, acting as a critical buffer against climate change. It provides food security for billions of people and livelihoods for millions more. Coastal communities rely on healthy waters for tourism, recreation, and even the value of their real estate. And beyond the tangible, the ocean provides something priceless: joy, inspiration, and a connection to something greater than ourselves.

Yet today, the balance is shifting dangerously. Overfishing has depleted fish stocks, climate change is bleaching coral reefs, and pollution is choking marine life. The very systems that sustain life in the ocean—and by extension, human life—are at risk of collapse. If the ocean dies, entire sectors of our global economy will crumble, and the communities most vulnerable will bear the brunt of the fallout.

It doesn’t have to be this way. We have the knowledge, technology, and capacity to reverse course. What we need now are bold, regenerative policies that prioritize restoration over exploitation.

A regenerative economy recognizes that healthy ecosystems are the foundation of lasting prosperity. By investing in the restoration of coastal habitats like mangroves, seagrasses, and coral reefs, we can not only rebuild biodiversity but also create jobs in restoration industries. By supporting sustainable fisheries, we can ensure that future generations have access to the ocean’s bounty. By promoting clean energy and reducing ocean pollution, we can protect marine ecosystems while fostering innovation and economic growth.

The good news is that this shift is already happening in pockets around the world. Communities are restoring their coastlines, businesses are embracing sustainability, and governments are beginning to recognize that long-term prosperity depends on a healthy planet. But we need to scale these efforts, and we need to do it now.

The ocean has an incredible capacity to heal if we give it the chance. I’ve seen it firsthand—reefs that were once bleached and lifeless begin to recover when given protection. Fish populations rebound when overfishing is curbed. Communities that once struggled to make ends meet find new opportunities in eco-tourism, marine restoration, and sustainable aquaculture.

Our economy doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game where nature loses so that people can win. We can create a world where both thrive—a world where our children inherit not only a healthy ocean but also a thriving economy built on its resilience.

In my work to restore our oceans, I carry with me the memories of what we once had and the vision of what we can have again. The choice is ours. Will we continue down a path of short-term exploitation, or will we invest in a regenerative future that ensures the ocean continues to provide for generations to come?

For the sake of our children and their children, I believe the answer is clear. It’s time to choose regeneration over destruction, resilience over collapse, and abundance over scarcity.

Our future depends on it.