TOWARDS NATURE POSITIVE FOR THE OCEAN

The report argues that the global ocean economy must transition from business-as-usual to a nature-positive model to avoid an estimated US$8.4 trillion in economic value loss by 2036. It introduces the AR3T (Avoid, Reduce, Restore & Regenerate, Transform) action framework to help companies in four key sectors—offshore wind, coastal and marine tourism, shipping, and seafood—halt and reverse biodiversity loss. The document emphasizes that nature positive is a collective societal goal, requiring absolute gains in nature rather than relative net gains or offsets. It provides specific technical recommendations for each sector, such as using nature-inclusive design in offshore wind, implementing sustainable siting in tourism, reducing vessel noise in shipping, and eliminating destructive fishing practices in the seafood sector. The report also highlights the necessity of integrating social equity and Indigenous knowledge into conservation efforts, asserting that a nature-positive future must also be 'people positive'.

• The global ocean economy is at significant financial risk due to environmental decline, with an estimated US$8.4 trillion in assets and revenues at risk through 2036 under a business-as-usual scenario.
• Transitioning to a nature-positive future—defined as halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030 on a 2020 baseline and achieving full recovery by 2050—could unlock up to US$10 trillion in new economic value.
• The report distinguishes 'nature positive' from 'no net loss' or 'net gain', arguing that the former requires 'absolute' gains in nature and systemic transformation rather than relying on compensatory offsets.
• The AR3T framework (Avoid, Reduce, Restore & Regenerate, Transform) is proposed as a more fit-for-purpose alternative to the traditional mitigation hierarchy for achieving nature-positive outcomes in the ocean.
• In the offshore wind sector, companies are encouraged to adopt 'nature-inclusive design' (NID) and avoid development in protected areas or sites with high ecological integrity.
• For coastal and marine tourism, the report recommends prioritizing the restoration of carbon-capturing habitats like mangroves and seagrasses to enhance coastal resilience and asset protection.
• The shipping industry is urged to reduce underwater noise pollution and avoid routing vessels through migratory pathways of endangered, threatened, and protected (ETP) species.
• The seafood sector is advised to follow a specific 'Seafood Improvement Hierarchy' (Avoid, Improve, Scale, Transform), which includes avoiding species on the IUCN Red List and eliminating destructive fishing practices.
• The report emphasizes that nature-positive efforts must be 'people positive', integrating social equity, environmental justice, and the rights of Indigenous peoples and local communities.
• Transformative change is identified as a cross-cutting necessity, requiring shifts in corporate governance, such as the 'Nature on the Board' model where nature is given a voice and vote in high-level decision-making.

APA

Carrow, A. W., Lynch, L., & Kroner, R. G. (2025). TOWARDS NATURE POSITIVE FOR THE OCEAN. WWF International. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/200/sa46jlqyu_WWF_Nature_Positive_Ocean_Pathways_Report_V10.pdf

Chicago

Carrow, Alanna Waldman, Lauren Lynch, and Rachel Golden Kroner. TOWARDS NATURE POSITIVE FOR THE OCEAN. WWF International, 2025. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/200/sa46jlqyu_WWF_Nature_Positive_Ocean_Pathways_Report_V10.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Carrow |first1=Alanna Waldman |last2=Lynch |first2=Lauren |last3=Kroner |first3=Rachel Golden |title=TOWARDS NATURE POSITIVE FOR THE OCEAN |publisher=WWF International |date=June 2025 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/200/sa46jlqyu_WWF_Nature_Positive_Ocean_Pathways_Report_V10.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{carrow2025towards, author = {Carrow, Alanna Waldman and Lynch, Lauren and Kroner, Rachel Golden}, title = {{TOWARDS NATURE POSITIVE FOR THE OCEAN}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2025}, month = jun, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/200/sa46jlqyu_WWF_Nature_Positive_Ocean_Pathways_Report_V10.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }