Oceans Futures

STOP OCEAN CONFLICT BEFORE
IT HAPPENS

Introducing Oceans Futures, a predictive analytics platform
to ensure peaceful and prosperous oceans.

discover more

the situation

Now more than ever, fish are a source of conflict. Global fish stocks are declining and climate change is making it worse, creating new fish-rich and fish-poor places and threatening food and livelihood security for billions of people. Conflict and instability will follow—we can
and must act now.

3.3 billion

The world’s fisheries are pushed to their limits. 3.3 billion people rely on fish products as their primary source of animal protein, and demand for seafood is expected to nearly double by 2050.

GLOBAL FISH STOCKS

GLOBAL HUMAN POPULATION

8 years

Climate change is causing fish to migrate. In the next 8 years, 23% of fish stock connected to territorial waters will move. This will result in more intense competition for scarce resources and more frequent conflict.Source: Palacios-Abrantes et al. 2022

Projected Fish Distribution

Interstate fisheries conflicts

1975

2020

20x

Worldwide food insecurity is a geopolitical concern. Interstate fisheries conflict has increased 20-fold in the last four decades. Without action, conflict will grow, with significant impacts on people
and nature.Source: Spijkers et al. 2019

the solution

Using data and artificial intelligence, this interactive platform predicts changes to fish stocks and future conflict hotspots that result from climate-driven fish migration. This will help decision-makers in the public, private, and NGO sectors prevent and mitigate conflict over fish by directing conservation and maritime security resources to where they
are needed the most.

This platform brings together data that has never been integrated, actionable, or accessible by national security, seafood markets, and conservation sectors.

Oceans Futures will be co-designed to provide a user-friendly platform that enables key constituents to take decisive action to stop ocean conflict. By defining the risk of growing conflicts over fish stocks, governments and security organizations can anticipate when and where future conflicts may occur, enabling strategic planning and preventative action.

A global view of ocean dynamics, movement of fish stocks, food insecurity, and other climate-driven fisheries data can inform decision-makers in the private and public sectors.

Oceans Futures will be supported by rigorous observational and forecast data sets that provide an integrated
view of the system.

Oceans Futures will highlight practical and actionable solutions to ocean conflict, unlocking new partnerships, resources, and strategic planning around marine resource conservation.

Prevent Future Fish Wars

Identify future fish-rich and fish-poor regions where conflict is likely to occur. National security organizations can use predictive analysis based on climate, fisheries, and geopolitical data to inform government defense, security, and intelligence resource allocation in marine and coastal sectors.

CREATE MORE SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD MARKETS

Inform the deployment of blue food and market-based solutions and investments for the global seafood sector and ESG financial investments. Seafood companies can identify areas of potential conflict and human rights abuse, enabling them to responsibly source fish stocks.

STRENGTHEN CONSERVATION EFFORTS

Enable conservation organizations to prioritize local programming and mobilize resources where they matter most. Users can leverage predictive insights to develop and deploy conservation solutions in partnership with local communities.