RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has unveiled Ocean Central, a groundbreaking digital platform designed to enhance marine health and support global regeneration efforts. The platform was introduced at the Future Investment Initiative by the Kingdom’s Ambassador to the US, Princess Reema bint Bandar, in collaboration with Wave, which integrates data, design, storytelling, and strategy into accessible insights.
Ocean Central enables users worldwide to monitor health trends of the sea, identify data gaps, and contribute to comprehensive restoration initiatives. Princess Reema emphasized the importance of shared understanding and collaboration in achieving ambitious ocean regeneration goals.
“Countries are setting ambitious targets to regenerate a thriving ocean, but what’s been missing is a clear view of the journey,” she stated. The ambassador noted that Ocean Central will serve as a catalyst for ocean regeneration, showcasing successful initiatives, pinpointing gaps in ocean data, and fostering a collective understanding of the ocean’s status.
The platform is aligned with global objectives, incorporating targets from the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and the 2015 Paris Agreement to monitor progress toward 2030 and 2050 milestones for a regenerated ocean. It facilitates the collection and analysis of data on marine biodiversity, coastal preservation, and other critical areas to drive informed actions.
Princess Reema called for global collaboration, urging individuals, scientific communities, and industries to unite in this vital endeavor. “Together, we can build a collective understanding of ocean health and ensure a thriving ocean by 2050,” she affirmed.
In a panel discussion alongside Red Sea Global CEO John Pagano, Princess Reema noted, “We all know that the health of our planet, our oceans, and our ecosystems are all connected to our well-being.” She highlighted that ocean-related industries generate over $2.5 trillion in economic value per year globally, supporting the livelihoods of 3 billion people in sectors like seafood, port construction, and coastal tourism.
The Saudi envoy reiterated that economies can grow “but not at the expense of the ocean,” adding that “investment in the blue economy has a trifecta of positive impact.” She concluded, “This collaboration of well-being and economic investment in coastal communities can be considered part of the toolkit to restore the damage done to oceans. You don’t have to have it separated. It’s all one and the same.”
Pagano emphasized, “I think we’ve taken our oceans for granted for far too long.”
