Fisheries, Aquaculture and Ocean Economies

Food from the ocean — from fisheries to aquaculture—nourishes over three billion people. It drives economic growth and provides millions of jobs, especially for people living in coastal countries, including Small Island Developing States. In addition, coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, tidal marshes, and seagrass meadows protect communities from floods and storms that cause widespread damage to their economies. As the planet’s largest carbon sink, coastal and marine ecosystems absorb greenhouse gases and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

The benefits of the ocean in numbers:

• In 2020, $2.6 trillion was added to the global economy - a number set to double by 2050.
• The ocean economy provides over 130 million full-time equivalent jobs globally, mostly in developing countries.
• One hectare of mangroves stores five times more carbon than in a similar area of forest on land.
• In 2021, fish and seaweed provided at least 20% of the protein intake for 3.2 billion people.
• The ocean enables the transportation of over 80% of global goods.

Yet the ocean is under threat. Overexploitation, marine pollution, marine biodiversity loss, and climate change are eroding hard-won gains. 680 million people living in low-lying coastal areas are directly threatened. Illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing significantly contributes to overfishing. An estimated 15 million metric tons of plastic waste enter the ocean annually—a figure expected to rise sharply by 2040. Global mangrove carbon stocks fell 4 percent between 1996 and 2020.

The solution lies in:

• Restoring productivity: Improving ocean governance, fisheries management, repurposing harmful subsidies, and promoting sustainable aquaculture can unlock billions of dollars in investment for developing countries. This also safeguards food security and jobs for coastal communities.
• Addressing plastic pollution requires multi-sectoral and country specific solutions.
• Conserving marine ecosystems like mangroves makes countries more resilient to sea level rise and coastal erosion, helping them to adapt to climate change.
• Storing carbon and reducing ocean acidification addresses ocean warming.

Engaging coastal communities—including women, indigenous people and local communities— in conservation, restoration and sustainable management leads to increased income and socio-economic resilience.

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The World Bank Group supports countries to adopt a blue economy approach that is sustainable and inclusive. The holistic development of individual oceanic sectors —such as shipping or tourism — is integrated with other sectors to restore ocean health. Analyses of oceanic sectors optimize benefits for people and nature. Tools like Marine Spatial Planning help to better manage the use of ocean space and resources.

The World Bank Group uses this approach to promote low-carbon, resource-efficient economic growth that creates jobs and reduces poverty. When managed sustainably, ocean resources can boost economic growth, improve livelihoods, create jobs and safeguard ocean ecosystems.

As of FY25, the World Bank’s blue economy portfolio exceeded $11.1 billion in active projects, including in:

1. sustainable fisheries and aquaculture;
2. circular economy and solid waste management;
3. sustainable coastal tourism, maritime transport and offshore renewable energy;
4. integrated coastal and marine ecosystem management.

The World Bank Group helps countries to strengthen governance of marine and coastal resources to drive sustainable and inclusive economic growth. This commitment is anchored in the World Bank Global Blue Economy Program,  PROBLUE a multi-donor trust fund that serves as the Bank’s flagship platform for advancing the blue economy.

Launched in 2018, the program is supported by the governments of Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as well as the European Union. Every $1 of PROBLUE activities informs $66 of World Bank investments.

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The World Bank advances global knowledge, policy, and capacity to support sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, which employ an estimated 62 million people worldwide in primary production. The World Bank promotes better fisheries management and fish value chains and invests in sustainable and climate-smart innovations in aquaculture to provide food and jobs to millions in the future.

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The World Bank Group takes a full value-chain approach to tackling plastic pollution. It supports countries to strengthen solid waste management systems, prevent leakage, boost recycling, and reduce plastic consumption in line with circular economy principles. As of July 2025, the Bank’s solid waste management commitments from active operations were $2.8 billion,  creating jobs and strengthening essential infrastructure.

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The World Bank promotes sustainability in maritime shipping, coastal tourism, and offshore wind energy—sectors with strong potential for economic growth and job creation.

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The World Bank Group strengthens government capacity to better manage marine and coastal resources.  Advancing nature-based solutions such as mangroves to boost costal resilience, social inclusion, and private sector finance safeguards communities from rising seas and storms, and generates jobs, stimulates local economies, and preserves biodiversity.

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• European Union
• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
• Agence Française de Développement
• The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency
• Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation
• Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs