Beyond the status quo: defining and enabling a sustainable deep-ocean blue economy

Global attention is turning to the promise of the Blue Economy as a pathway to sustainable development, with largely unrestrained expansion of human activities and associated impacts threatening the unique, important and fragile deep ocean. With deep-ocean ecosystems already affected by climate change, fisheries and pollution, and with new threats on the horizon, we are at a critical juncture for stewarding Earth’s ocean. Given the importance and vulnerability of the deep ocean to ensuring planetary health and human well being, it is critical that it is stewarded effectively and equitably, and the time to act is now before many of these activities begin in earnest. This presentation will discuss human activities in the deep ocean, including their sustainability, equity and economic considerations, as well as issues and challenges unique to a blue economy in the deep ocean.