How to leverage trade to achieve a 2050 ocean dream.

Abstract

The Ocean is central to our lives, providing vital ecosystem goods and services. It generates 50% of the Earth's oxygen; absorbs around 30% of anthropogenic carbon emissions; regulates the Earth's climate; and provides food, income, and livelihoods for hundreds of millions of people worldwide. However, the Ocean is under serious multiple threats from overexploitation, climate change, and pollution. Here, I state my dream 2050 scenario for the Ocean and describe how trade, in the midst of broader ocean governance efforts, can contribute to realizing this dream.