The Blue Acceleration: The Trajectory of Human Expansion into the Ocean

TLDR

Humanity faces growing resource demand and declining land supplies, making the ocean an increasingly important source of food, materials, and space, with unprecedented scale and diversity of exploitation. The paper defines the “blue acceleration” as a competitive race among diverse interests to exploit ocean resources and space. The authors examine the implications of this new reality for the global ocean and propose ways to guide it sustainably and equitably.

Abstract

Does humanity's future lie in the ocean? As demand for resources continues to grow and land-based sources decline, expectations for the ocean as an engine of human development are increasing. Claiming marine resources and space is not new to humanity, but the extent, intensity, and diversity of today's aspirations are unprecedented. We describe this as the blue acceleration—a race among diverse and often competing interests for ocean food, material, and space. Exploring what this new reality means for the global ocean and how to steer it in a sustainable and equitable way represents an urgent challenge. Does humanity's future lie in the ocean? As demand for resources continues to grow and land-based sources decline, expectations for the ocean as an engine of human development are increasing. Claiming marine resources and space is not new to humanity, but the extent, intensity, and diversity of today's aspirations are unprecedented. We describe this as the blue acceleration—a race among diverse and often competing interests for ocean food, material, and space. Exploring what this new reality means for the global ocean and how to steer it in a sustainable and equitable way represents an urgent challenge.