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
Indonesia
Asia
Greenhouse Gas: Blue Carbon & CO2e Removal or Avoidance
Willy Angraini
3 youths from 3 islands in the Thousand Islands (Tidung, Pari, and Kelapa Dua) developed technical skills and soft skills as they underwent online classes on climate change and website development. The 9 participants also gained direct experience in the conservation field by planting at least 1,000 mangroves and 150 seagrass across the 3 islands.
Learn MoreGrant
Peru
South America
Ocean Data, Literacy & Research
Javier Validivia De La Gala
SOA Arequipa aims to promulgate science to the 4 cardinal points of the Arequipa region, promoting scientific thought to all the inhabitants of the region even if they are not linked directly to scientific fields. Our vision is to disseminate science through use of social networks, campaigns and expositions to both public and private centers so that the population becomes aware of all the impacts that pollution is causing in the Arequipa region. We want to provide people with multiple science-proven solutions to avoid the continuous pollution that occurs day to day.
Learn MoreGrant
Russia
Asia
Ecosystems and Species: Preservation & Restoration
Olga Mironenko
This project creates an online social simulation of deep sea mining in which users become members of the International Seabed Authority Advisory Council. Users will be able to learn about the issue, debate, and ultimately create recommendations for the ISA on deep sea mining.
Learn MoreGrant
Canada
North America
Blue Foods: Fisheries, Aquaculture, & Seafood Alternatives
Alexander Dungate
This software MVP seeks to provide real-time reporting of catch and bycatch using cloud-based AI to review videos from fishing vessels to enhance electronic monitoring and thereby improve the policy and action the data inform.
Learn MoreGrant
Brunei
Asia
Ocean Data, Literacy & Research
Shaima Misli
SOA Brunei conducted an Ocean Leadership Camp called AdvocaSEA Camp, which brought together 30 youth leaders from various schools in Brunei to do a capacity-building program focused on marine conservation. The participants had the opportunity to form collaborations and pitch a project at the end of the program, and some participants were awarded a small grant provided by a partnership with the U.S. Embassy in Brunei.
Learn MoreGrant
Thailand
Asia
Pollution: Waste Reduction & Circular Use
Chanintorn Pensute
Chiang Mai University students collected 20kg of waste from the Chiang Mai - Mae Kha Canal. Their work was filmed for the production of a short documentary.
Learn MoreGrant
Cameroon
Africa
Greenhouse Gas: Blue Carbon & CO2e Removal or Avoidance
Anthony Malle
This community-based mangrove restoration project will plant 1,000 mangroves and work with local stakeholders to increase awareness and the long-term protections for mangroves sites across 4 communities in coastal Cameroon.
Learn MoreGrant
Trinidad and Tobago
Caribbean
Ocean Data, Literacy & Research
Diva Amon
SpeSeas raises awareness about key ocean issues in Trinidad and Tobago, led by a founding team of ocean science experts, including Diva Amon, who has worked in close partnership with SOA's Campaign Against Deep Sea Mining. With SOA support, they will amplify their social media presence, helping them to grow their network and make ocean literacy more accessible in the country.
Learn MoreGrant
Australia
Oceania
Ocean Data, Literacy & Research
Heidi Dumesich
SOA Australia is a new SOA Hub, co-founded by the former leaders of SOA University of Sydney. The mission of SOA Australia is to be the overarching hub to support all of the hubs across Australia as well as be their space for individuals and companies to learn about the importance of the ocean. Heidi and Bella brought SOA to Australia because they are aware of the ocean issues in Australia and aim to show the importance of the oceans to young professionals, and to connect them with industry leaders.
Learn More
