The Future of Ocean Restoration: Why We Need Radical Collaboration
Over the past 60 years, we’ve lost 50% of the life in our oceans. Let that sink in—half of the ocean’s life is gone. Once you’ve lost half of something, conserving what’s left is no longer enough. We need a bold, ambitious approach to not only protect what remains but to actively restore what’s been lost. The way forward requires a complete rethinking of how we approach ocean restoration, moving beyond the small, incremental steps of the past.
Breaking Free from Limited Thinking
The ocean conservation space is often stuck in a cycle of competition over limited resources. Organizations and projects fight for the same pots of funding, while innovation and collaboration are stifled. We focus on preserving what little remains rather than daring to rebuild. This lack of ambition is holding us back. We need to embrace a mindset shift and break free from the idea that conservation is a zero-sum game.
What if we brought together marine scientists, tech innovators, policymakers, and communities to approach ocean restoration in radically new ways? Imagine the power of combining cutting-edge technologies like AI-driven data analysis with local knowledge to restore marine ecosystems at scale. We’ve already seen glimpses of this potential, but we need to scale these efforts and push further. The urgency of the crisis demands that we act with greater speed and collaboration across disciplines.
Embracing Radical New Approaches
We’ve become too comfortable thinking about what’s "realistic" rather than what’s truly necessary. We need to invite new voices into the conversation—people who don’t know what’s “impossible.” Disruptors from outside traditional ocean conservation fields can offer fresh perspectives and help us develop scalable solutions. Whether it’s finance, technology, or design, we need to embrace diverse expertise to tackle the complexity of ocean restoration.
When I reflect on the current state of ocean conservation, I’m both inspired and frustrated. Inspired by the dedication of those working tirelessly to protect the ocean, but frustrated by how often we set our ambitions too low. We aim for what’s achievable within current constraints rather than striving for what’s truly necessary to save the oceans. I believe we need to embrace a new kind of ambition—one that matches the scale of the crisis we face.
The Future of Ocean Restoration
I believe we’re standing at a critical juncture. We’ve lost so much already, but there’s still time to turn things around—if we’re willing to be bold. We need a radical shift in how we approach ocean restoration, one that welcomes innovation, creativity, and collaboration from all corners. It’s no longer just about conserving what’s left. It’s about rebuilding. And to do that, we need more ambition.
Let this be a call for action. A call for those who believe that the future of the ocean—and our planet—depends on our ability to think beyond what’s been done before. Whether you’re a marine biologist, an entrepreneur, a technologist, or simply someone who cares deeply about the health of our planet, we need your ideas, your boldness, and your drive. The future of our oceans is at stake, and it’s going to take all of us to restore them—not just to what they were, but to something better.
We’ve lost half of our oceans in the last 60 years. Let’s not lose the other half. Let’s dream bigger. Let’s act faster. Let’s restore our oceans with the ambition they deserve.
