‘Blue Consolidation’ and the drivers of inequality in the Ocean economy

The rapid expansion of ocean industries, termed the ‘ blue acceleration ’, has generated new economic opportunities across sectors such as mariculture, bioprospecting, fisheries, and renewable energy. Prior research focused on individual sectors has shown that this growth is unevenly distributed, with profit, power, and access to resources and benefits consolidated among a small number of actors. In this study, we analysed inequalities in resource access across all nations and six ocean sectors: bioprospecting, aquaculture, capture fisheries, offshore oil, offshore wind, and deep-sea mining (DSM) exploration. We used a Gini coefficient analysis to quantify consolidation patterns, with results showing high levels of inequality across all sectors, particularly in bioprospecting and offshore wind. From a review of related literature, we identified four mechanisms that drive consolidation: 1) systemic market and economic barriers, 2) historical legacies, 3) legal and policy frameworks, and 4) disparities in infrastructure and expertise. These dynamics exacerbate vulnerabilities for smaller nations and communities without the political and economic power to compete effectively, deepening global differences in development capacity. To promote a fairer distribution of ocean resources, policymakers must first acknowledge that, without targeted interventions, ocean development will likely lead to further unequal outcomes. Therefore, we suggest a set of structural and legal reforms aimed at embedding equity at the core of governance frameworks, including co-management approaches, capacity building, and inclusive financial and legal mechanisms. These interventions are designed to empower local communities, recognize traditional rights, and challenge entrenched structural advantages that disproportionately benefit large-scale and transnational actors.