The global ocean economy generated $3.5 trillion in gross value added in 2025 and supported 103 million full-time-equivalent jobs, according to a report released by the Organisation for…
The global ocean economy generated $3.5 trillion in gross value added in 2025 and supported 103 million full-time-equivalent jobs, according to a report released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The scale of the sector reflects the ocean’s central role in global trade, food production and coastal livelihoods. At the 7th Symposium on Global Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance in Sanya, China, experts from several countries called for closer international cooperation in maritime security, fisheries and marine conservation.
“The ocean connects all of us,” said Jayanath Colombage, former chief of the Navy of Sri Lanka and former ambassador of Sri Lanka to Indonesia, in an interview during the forum. The nature of maritime security has changed significantly, Colombage said. “Gone are the days when maritime security was only about navies and ships. Now it has cyberspace, undersea cables, satellites and outer space.” The growing importance of these networks is reflected in the global digital economy.
Submarine telecommunications cables carry more than 99% of international data traffic worldwide, according to the International Telecommunication Union. Damage to these cables can disrupt communications, financial services, and other essential operations. Maritime transport carries a similarly large share of global commerce. Global trade in ocean-related goods and services reached approximately $2.5 trillion in 2025, with services accounting for 58% of the total, according to data released by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in June 2026.
For nations positioned along key maritime arteries, safeguarding these commercial lifelines translates directly into regional cooperation. Citing Sri Lanka’s strategic position in the Indian Ocean, Colombage highlighted its maritime and infrastructure cooperation with China as a concrete example of how major trade partners can support local port development and connectivity. Manufactured goods shipped from China to the Middle East, Europe and Africa pass close to Sri Lanka, as do oil and gas shipments from the Persian Gulf bound for China, Colombage said.
He described port investment and maritime connectivity as important areas for continued cooperation between the two countries, adding that Chinese investment and technological capabilities could support Sri Lanka’s economic development, CEN reported. Rethinking the Blue Harvest While trade routes form the circulatory system of the ocean economy, fisheries and aquaculture represent its vital lifeblood for millions of coastal residents. Addressing global food security similarly hinges on cross-border market and technology sharing within key regions.
This is a source-linked briefing. Read the original report from The Nation .