Commissioned by A Sustainable and Equitable Blue Recovery to the COVID-19 Crisis Eliza Northrop, Manaswita Konar, Nicola Frost and Elizabeth Hollaway Secretariat of the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, World Resources Institute oceanpanel.org About this Paper The High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy (Ocean Panel) is a unique initiative by 14 world leaders who are building momentum for a sustainable ocean economy in which effective protection, sustainable production and equitable prosperity go hand in hand. By enhancing humanity’s relationship with the ocean, bridging ocean health and wealth, working with diverse stakeholders and harnessing the latest knowledge, the Ocean Panel aims to facilitate a better, more resilient future for people and the planet. Established in September 2018, the Ocean Panel has been working with government, business, financial institutions, the science community and civil society to catalyse and scale bold, pragmatic solutions across policy, governance, technology and finance to ultimately develop an action agenda for transitioning to a sustainable ocean economy. Co-chaired by Norway and Palau, the Ocean Panel is the only ocean policy body made up of serving world leaders with the authority needed to trigger, amplify and accelerate action worldwide for ocean priorities. The Ocean Panel comprises members from Australia, Canada, Chile, Fiji, Ghana, Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Namibia, Norway, Palau and Portugal and is supported by the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean. The Ocean Panel’s approach is both ambitious and practical. Collaborative partnerships are essential to converting knowledge into action. To develop a common understanding of what a sustainable ocean economy looks like, the Ocean Panel gathers input from a wide array of stakeholders, including an Expert Group and an Advisory Network. The Secretariat, based at World Resources Institute, assists with analytical work, communications and stakeholder engagement. In the spirit of achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), providing value to the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and meeting the objectives of the Paris Agreement, the Ocean Panel commissioned a comprehensive assessment of ocean science and knowledge that has significant policy relevance. This includes a series of 16 Blue Papers and various Special Reports that offer a synthesis of knowledge, new thinking and perspectives, and opportunities for action. This body of work is informing a new ocean narrative in the forthcoming Towards a Sustainable Ocean Economy report. Together, this research and new narrative serve as inputs to the Ocean Panel’s deliberations for its forthcoming action agenda. The Ocean Panel commissioned the Secretariat at World Resources Institute to prepare this Special Report, which examines the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the ocean economy and the role of ocean-based solutions in supporting sustainable and equitable recovery to the crisis. This paper is an independent input to the Ocean Panel process and does not necessarily represent the thinking of the Ocean Panel. Suggested Citation: Northrop, E., et al. 2020. ‘‘A Sustainable and Equitable Blue Recovery to the COVID-19 Crisis.’’ Report. Washington, DC: World Resources Institute. Available online at http://www.oceanpanel.org/ bluerecovery Table of Contents Foreword ..................................................................................1 Introduction ..............................................................................5 Emerging Impacts and Early Responses .............................................11 Roadmap for a Sustainable and Equitable Blue Recovery ........................35 Conclusion .............................................................................69 Annex A. Additional Interventions to Secure a Blue Future through Recovery from COVID-19 ............................................72 Annex B. Additional Reference Materials on a Sustainable Ocean Economy ....86 References .............................................................................92 Acknowledgements ..................................................................103 About the Authors ....................................................................103 Foreword Foreword Over a third of the world’s population lives within 100 kilometres of the ocean. Despite this, the role the ocean plays in sustaining human life and the global economy is often underappreciated and overlooked. The ocean not only provides us with oxygen, food and energy, it fuels the global economy, enabling the exchange of goods and services across vast distances. The health of the ocean, and its ability to continue providing vital services, underpins the global economy but also much of human life. The COVID-19 pandemic has had severe ramifications worldwide, and the ocean economy is no exception. While initially projected to double by 2030, the growth of the ocean economy has been hindered by COVID-19, with significant revenue losses throughout. Port closures, travel restrictions and supply chain disruptions have disrupted ocean-based industries such as shipping, marine and coastal tourism and fisheries. As with many crises, it is the most vulnerable groups, such as coastal communities and informal workers, that are hardest hit. The ocean economy may be a victim of the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis, but it also holds solutions for rebuilding a more resilient, sustainable and equitable post-COVID world. Investment in ‘blue’ recovery and stimulus packages, along with policy reform, can immediately create jobs and provide short-term economic relief, all while fostering long-term economic growth, resiliency and social and environmental benefits. As we look to rebuild, cooperation between government and the public and private sector as well as a departure from ‘business as usual’ can ensure this transformation. The High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy (Ocean Panel) commissioned the Secretariat at World Resources Institute to develop an assessment identifying the impacts of COVID-19 on the ocean economy and to provide interventions which will catalyse a sustainable recovery and enhance resilience. This report provides a timely snapshot of the interconnected nature of the impacts currently being experienced across the ocean economy by those who rely on it for their livelihoods and food security. It provides practical guidance and identifies five ready- made solutions which will deliver jobs and significant economic benefits: (1) invest in coastal and marine ecosystem restoration and protection, (2) invest in sewerage and wastewater infrastructure for coastal communities, (3) invest in sustainable community-led non-fed mariculture, (4) incentivise zero-emission marine transport and (5) incentivise sustainable ocean-based renewable energy. To date, many stimulus packages have overlooked the role the ocean can play in a ‘blue’ recovery. This report clearly demonstrates why policymakers should look to the ocean economy for mutually beneficial, no-regrets investments that will help the world set a course to a more resilient, sustainable and equitable future. As co-chairs of the Ocean Panel Expert Group, we wish to warmly thank the Secretariat and reviewers for responding rapidly and effectively to the opportunity to conduct this novel assessment. We also thank the members of the Ocean Panel for their support of this report. We hope they and relevant parties are able to act on the paper’s findings and accelerate recovery in a post-COVID-19 world through ‘blue’ investments. Hon. Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D. Professor Peter Haugan, Ph.D. Hon. Mari Elka Pangestu, Ph.D. Oregon State University Institute of Marine Research, Norway University of Indonesia A Sustainable and Equitable Blue Recovery to the COVID-19 Crisis | 1 Highlights Investment through recovery and stimulus packages With a longer-term vision and the right actions, the represents a crucial lever for accelerating the shift COVID-19 pandemic can mark the beginning of a new from business as usual to a more sustainable future type of global and societal cooperation in building a that delivers on global targets under the 2030 Agenda sustainable ocean economy. for Sustainable Development, the Convention on The pandemic has had deep and wide-reaching Biological Diversity and the Paris Agreement. consequences for people around the world, resulting Humanity is at a critical crossroads. Stimulus which in a crisis that has led to significant loss of human locks in high-emitting, high-polluting and inequitable life, increasing food and nutritional insecurity and development pathways now will have catastrophic poverty, and affecting almost all areas of the global implications for ocean health, the global climate economy. emergency, economic resilience, human health and The ocean economy, which contributes upwards prosperity. of US$1.5 trillion in value added to the global The strategic investment of recovery and stimulus economy has been particularly hard hit by the funds into the ocean economy offers an untapped pandemic. Significant revenue losses have been felt opportunity to support job creation and economic across coastal and marine tourism, fisheries and diversification and relief in the short term. Such aquaculture, and the global shipping industries. investments can also accelerate the sustainable Hundreds of millions of jobs have been affected, and equitable growth of ocean