Over the past 75 years, the United States has tapped investment and innovation to lead the world out of myriad crises. America’s rise as a global leader after World War II was based in large part on leveraging the ocean as a platform for growth, power, and prosperity. The US led the creation of a new global maritime trading system, built a global navy to protect it, and launched a concerted–although far from sufficient–effort to explore and understand the marine environment.

Today, as the world faces a new and unprecedented economic crisis, America has the opportunity to lead once again, this time by bolstering the $3-6 trillion global ocean economy—one that, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, was growing faster in the US than our national economy as a whole. This effort would align with global marine economic development and scientific efforts due to kick off next year under the UN Decade of Ocean Science.

Encouraging signs of ocean leadership are already emerging across the US government as bipartisan bills on ocean data and innovation, ocean exploration, ocean, and national security, and ocean pollution have either been signed into law or are moving through the legislative process. A strategy on mapping, exploring, and characterizing the US Exclusive Economic Zone was also released earlier this month that will promote activities essential for growing a sustainable maritime economy in the United States and abroad.

A new, holistic “Blue Economy” strategy focused on harnessing sustainable ocean commerce, environmental health, and ocean security is a natural next step for the US that should be coupled with the appointment of a White House czar to coordinate its implementation. Its focus should include offshore renewable energy, maritime transportation, sustainable fishing, and climate adaptation.

Read the full article about economic recovery by Jonathan White and Johan Berganas at The Aspen Institute.