Can the people who live on the coast—particularly the young—can find meaningful livelihoods in a restored ocean?
The blue economy conversation has matured quickly on two fronts: capital and nature. The sector now knows how to finance reefs, structure blended instruments, and treat the ocean as critical natural infrastructure and has gained fluency in restoration, fisheries, and the science of a recovering sea. What has lagged, almost everywhere, is the human question: whether the people who live on the coast—particularly the young—can find meaningful livelihoods in a restored ocean.
That question will be placed at the front and centre of this session convened by the Standard Chartered Foundation and the NO.17 Foundation, alongside several aligned impact organisations. The Standard Chartered Foundation brings a long-standing focus on the economic inclusion of young people, while the NO.17 Foundation brings a place-based approach rooted in coastal communities across Asia. Together with others working across the sustainable ocean economy, participants will bring different perspectives on a shared challenge.
The idea beneath the conversation is simple: a healthy ocean and thriving coastal communities are not competing objectives; they succeed or fail together. While the wider field continues to advance the science and financing of ocean restoration, there remains a need to ensure that economic opportunity keeps pace. This session is intended as a practical step towards building that shared agenda, and towards ensuring that the benefits of a growing blue economy reach the people closest to it.
While workforce pathways and market value creation are equally important, this conversation will examine the role of catalytic capital in helping ocean enterprises grow and scale. Participants will explore where the greatest barriers and opportunities lie, and how philanthropy, investors, and ecosystem partners can work together to unlock the conditions for quality jobs and sustainable livelihoods.
