To expand the ocean economy to create jobs and economic growth while achieving global targets set for ocean health, ocean policy should account for the value of the services dependent on marine ecosystems. The Nicholas Institute's Ocean and Coastal Policy Program supports decision makers in exploring policies that better align ocean economic growth and health and identifying and securing financing for conservation of coastal habitats that sequester so-called blue carbon.
The Institute works with partners such as the Center for the Blue Economy to support governments to develop integrated ocean management policies, based on measurement of the ocean economy and ecosystem services, and blue economy concepts and scenarios.