Looking back at 2022, I am humbled by the incredible work the SOA team brought to life. It was a record-breaking fundraising year, which allowed us to accelerate dozens of new ocean solutions that you can read about in this report. We now have more than 7,000 young ocean leaders around the world, and 82 hubs across 77 countries. The team came together for the first time since the pandemic at the United Nations Ocean Conference in Portugal, where we proudly cohosted the Youth and Innovation Forum. Many of us met in person for the very first time on the beautiful beach in Cascais, where we had the honor to watch more than 120 youth devise real-world solutions to some of the greatest threats facing our ocean – and even enjoyed a surprise appearance from actor and activist Jason Momoa! From our realized impact to strengthening internal bonds, it was truly SOA's greatest year yet.
Now looking forward to 2023, it is clear we still have so much work to do. We are bracing for the defining climate fight of our generation – deep-seabed mining. SOA has been campaigning vigorously against this destructive practice for more than two years, and recently delivered a collaborative petition with more than a quarter of a million signatures calling for a moratorium. The International Seabed Authority is set to vote on whether to allow the mining of the deep sea in July, and if approved, it could be open for business that very month. In the history of the destruction of our planet, our generation has never been present to prevent detrimental actions from taking place. This is why we are spending so much of our time restoring, regenerating, and rehabilitating. But now, we can prevent this horrific practice from ever starting. We cannot afford to stay silent and do nothing. We cannot afford to stay on the sidelines and watch those in power determine our fate and our future. This is why we must urgently continue to build our network of young ocean leaders – and ocean allies of all ages. It is critical we have a voice in world-altering decisions, as it is our future most at stake.
While we know we have our work cut out for us, I hope you are as inspired and buoyed by this report as I am. The climate crisis cannot be solved by one person. But together, we are creating meaningful change to protect our planet, our future, and each other.
Daniela V. Fernandez
Founder and CEO,
Sustainable Ocean Alliance
Our global network of people and solutions are making a measurable impact. These numbers are cumulative through December 31, 2022.
Sustainable Ocean Alliance takes a unique approach to solving key ocean challenges. By allocating funding across nonprofit grants, market-driven startup investments, and local initiatives, we support a diverse community of ocean solutions. This unique strategy has led to SOA supporting 266 ocean solutions across 77 countries over the past 5 years.
Through collaboration with ocean impact entrepreneurs, investors, philanthropists, and scientific advisors, we have developed a methodology for organizing and collecting impact data across five key ocean areas. Each solution represented in this report falls into one or more of these impact categories. We hope that this report will encourage funders to allocate more resources towards solving these ocean challenges.
—
Craig Dudenhoeffer
Chief Impact & Investments Officer
2022 IMPACT:
1,143 metric tons of CO2 avoided or removed
Greenhouse gasses (GHGs) absorb infrared solar radiation and trap heat in the atmosphere, resulting in global warming, climate change, increased ocean temperatures and sea level rise. CO2, one of the most common GHGs, is absorbed by the ocean, which in turn, causes ocean acidification. In 2022, 36.8 gigatons of carbon (CO2) were emitted globally.
By supporting solutions that remove or avoid GHG emissions, or that sequester and store CO2, SOA can help reduce these harmful environmental effects and improve the health of our ocean.
2022 IMPACT:
1,794 metric tons of waste removed, avoided, or recycled
(including 446 metric tons of plastic)
Every year, 11 million metric tons of plastic enter our marine environments, killing marine life, destroying sensitive ocean ecosystems, and polluting food sources that support livelihoods around the world.
SOA champions solutions that remove these harmful pollutants from the ocean or avoid their use altogether. Their work in turn helps to build the circular economy, which promotes the extension of product lifecycles through recycling and upcycling, and aims to decrease solid waste and pollution.
2022 IMPACT:
Marine and coastal ecosystems protect crucial biodiversity, and provide services vital to our existence. These areas include coral reefs, seagrass meadows, mangrove forests, salt marshes, and the deep seabed. Together, they serve as critical areas for wildlife reproduction, nurseries for marine organisms, and landscapes for carbon capture.
Solutions in this category measure impact by reporting the area of marine habitat they restore or protect. In 2022, this included establishing 3,573 square meters of coral reef, and planting 19,425 mangroves. This category also includes 11 projects related to local education and advocacy around the detrimental impacts of deep-seabed mining.
2022 IMPACT:
56.9 metric tons of Blue Foods Produced
55 metric tons of bycatch avoided
More than three billion people rely on seafood as a primary source of protein, and 260 million depend on fisheries for their livelihoods. Overfishing, and illegal and industrial practices are killing wildlife and destroying wild places. At the same time, aquaculture seeks to meet demand and reduce the burden on the ocean, but can result in high levels of pollution if not performed sustainably.
Emerging alternatives to any form of aquatically-derived animal protein are plant-based and new methods of cellular agriculture. SOA supports solutions that produce sustainable Blue Foods and those that help move our food systems towards a sustainable future.
2022 IMPACT:
3,149 People Trained or Educated
156 Reports & Publications
296 Workshops
Ocean data, literacy, and research projects help us build the knowledge base we need to activate all other ocean solutions. While there may not be a singular category to measure their impact, in 2022 we have elected to report on education, training, and knowledge sharing.
The majority of projects in this category represent grants to SOA's global community, via Hubs. Through hosting over 150 events and activations around the world, their work has engaged over 200,000 people. These projects inform policy, drive innovation, and equip new audiences with the knowledge they need to become change agents in their own right.
Grant
Japan
Asia
Ocean Data, Literacy & Research
Erika Tanaka
In Japan, the proportion of women engaged in occupations related to the ocean is significantly lower than that of men, and many women are not able to play an active role in marine-related fields. To address this issue, this project will help to: (1) Create an environment where the next generation of young people can develop marine literacy; (2) Establish a human resources network centered on young people with interdisciplinary and specialized knowledge of the ocean; (3) Promote the conservation and sustainable use of the sea (SDG14), and also help work towards gender equality (SDG5).
Learn MoreGrant
Gambia
Africa
Pollution: Waste Reduction & Circular Use
Betty Jahateh
Gambia Ocean Heroes is a service-learning project under the GREAT Institute created in 2018. Apart from clean up activities, the GOH supports local communities and organizations to take the lead in efforts towards promoting ocean health and reducing plastic pollution. Since 2018, GOH has collected 350 tonnes of trash along The Gambia’s coastline and is excited to expand this effort to rivers.
Learn MoreGrant
United States of America
North America
Blue Foods: Fisheries, Aquaculture, & Seafood Alternatives
Skye Steritz
Noble Ocean Farms plants and farms kelp in the Alaskan Eyak community, increasing food security and ecosystem health through the production of 2,500 kilograms of kelp annually.
Learn MoreGrant
Tanzania
Africa
Greenhouse Gas: Blue Carbon & CO2e Removal or Avoidance
Salim Mohamed Abdallah
Ambakofi will train 75 fishers from three coastal villages on sustainable mangrove restoration and maintenance, using the techniques of the Mangrove Action Project's Community Based Ecological Mangrove Restoration (CBEMR) course. These trainees will then work to restore (clear waterways of debris) and monitor 7.5 hectares of mangrove.
Learn MoreGrant
Canada
North America
Pollution: Waste Reduction & Circular Use
Alexa Goodman
Stop Trashing It is a network of youth helping people shift awareness into action when it comes to living lighter on the planet. They aim to ease these habit changes and encourage self-accountability through three action areas: workshops, digital communications programs, and action campaigns.
Learn MoreGrant
Indonesia
Asia
Pollution: Waste Reduction & Circular Use
Dicky Dwi Alfandy
Bandar Lampung has been ranked the 2nd dirtiest city in Indonesia, and is also home to the second longest coastline in Sumatra. There are no specific initiatives focused on recycling in Lampung, so last year, this group hosted an ocean and waste literacy Summit, the Lampung Youth Marine Debris Summit 2.0, with the theme “Youth and Debris, to Creative Eco-Economy”.
Learn MoreStartup
United States of America
North America
Greenhouse Gas: Blue Carbon & CO2e Removal or Avoidance
Sampriti Bhattacharaya
Navier is bringing change to the maritime industry through the development of clean, efficient technology, unlocking a future where small vessels are clean, efficient, and easy to operate. The company’s unique multidisciplinary heritage combines deep maritime experience with rigorous expertise in aerospace and autonomous system engineering. In the long term, they view the Navier 27 as a platform for more than just fun. If small vessels can be made efficient and cost effective, they see a future where these craft can play an integral role in waterborne transportation.
Learn MoreGrant
Ecuador
South America
Greenhouse Gas: Blue Carbon & CO2e Removal or Avoidance
Juan Fernando Pesántez Muñoz
SOA Manabi (Ecuador) Hub will plant and monitor 200 mangroves in the Punta San Clemente Marine Protected Area, working in partnership with the Contamos Contigo Ecuador Foundation to clean and re-establish adequate water flow to the estuary.
Learn MoreGrant
Norway
Europe & United Kingdom
Ecosystems and Species: Preservation & Restoration
Martin Skadal
World Saving Hustle's (WSH) is engaging their 600 members to continue their important campaign for a moratorium on deep seabed mining in Norway. In collaboration with WWF Norway and Friends of the Earth Norway, WSH will produce talks and articles, circulate 11 petitions throughout Norway, and make connections with at least 5 political parties to inform them about the issue and its impacts.
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