According to a new “Blue Paper” from the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, the ocean provided at least 133 million jobs worldwide as of 2019. The largest employers are marine and coastal tourism, followed by fisheries, aquaculture, and marine transportation. However, this number is a rough estimate due to gaps in national data.
The Sustainable Ocean Economy Scenario
The report argues that transitioning to a sustainable ocean economy could boost employment to over 184 million jobs by 2050. This growth would be driven by emerging sectors and new job roles. The paper identifies marine renewable energy as a high-growth area, with a potential for 1.2 million new jobs by 2050. Another key growth sector is ocean carbon removal, which includes techniques like enhancing ocean alkalinity and cultivating marine biomass.
Risks and Challenges
Without a shift to a sustainable model, the report warns that 40 million jobs could be lost compared to 2019 levels. Traditional sectors like offshore oil and gas are expected to see employment declines, requiring a substantial reskilling of the workforce, especially in developing regions. Digital transformation and technological innovation will also create new roles while displacing others, potentially increasing economic inequalities. The report highlights that climate change could further disrupt the ocean economy, citing a recent study on the weakening of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC). A potential collapse of this vital ocean current could lead to significant changes in sectors like fisheries and tourism.
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Source: Earth
