Urgent Action Needed: Leveraging Marine Technology for Large-Scale Restoration of Marine Ecosystem Health

The ocean plays a crucial role in addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and food security. Recently, we’ve witnessed a significant increase in awareness of the ocean’s importance across governments and industries, as seen at major conferences like Climate COP29 and Biodiversity COP16. 

While there are passionate conversations and promising collaborations underway, there’s an urgent question: are we truly focusing on the bigger picture, especially with respect to the ocean and the need for large-scale action? The reality is that we need immediate, impactful measures. Our priority should be fast, large-scale improvements, primarily by removing stressors from ecosystems to enable their recovery. 

We cannot afford to delay while details are being debated—there is a need for innovation that delivers actionable, clear, and timely information, easily understood by both decision-makers and communities. Degradation of marine ecosystems results from multiple stressors, including pollution (such as agricultural runoff, sewage, and fish farming), overfishing, construction, shipping, and other human activities. Identifying and managing these primary stressors is essential to allow ecosystems to regenerate and thrive. 

The marine technology community has a vital role in this mission, providing tools that offer detailed, large-scale insights. These innovations empower stakeholders within marine ecosystems to protect and sustain their environments, thereby supporting their own livelihoods and the health of the planet.