🌊 Last week I had the privilege of speaking at Ocean and Coastal Futures’ inaugural Blue Finance event in London, the UK’s first gathering dedicated to aligning finance, policy, and community for a regenerative blue economy.

It was great to connect with staff and colleagues at the Marine Conservation Society.

Event highlights

💬 Coastal communities at the centre

From fishermens’ songs about people in suits from cities to the reality of climate refugees, water quality, and funding gaps, we were reminded that finance must be rooted in lived experience.

Initiatives like OneCoast coalition, Marine Fund Cymru, and Sea Ranger Service show how bottom-up approaches can build pride, identity, and long-term career pathways.

💡 Innovation & investment models

From restorative aquaculture (Bright Tide) to sustainable fisheries (Fisheries Improvement Fund) and new blue project pipelines (Blue Bond Accelerator, Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance), momentum is building.

Guarantee facilities, value chain engagement, and innovative fee structures could help unlock capital, but the focus must remain on regeneration, not just returns.

📊 What’s next for blue finance

Regulation is tightening: TCFD → TNFD and beyond. Non-market values like nutrient cycles, biodiversity, and climate regulation must be factored into investment models.

Stronger governance, integrity, and metrics will be critical for investor confidence.

Big opportunities lie in renewables, infrastructure, ocean tech, circular economy solutions, sustainable seafood, and making seagrass/salt marsh restoration more investable.

🌍 My biggest takeaway?

To truly scale blue finance, we need to depoliticise ocean and coastal support, co-design with communities, and align financial flows with nature-positive outcomes.

Finance can (and must) drive regeneration. But that means creating reliable cash flows for regenerative businesses and engaging companies that depend on nature as a core asset.