Financing a Sustainable Blue Economy

Mobilising global finance to transform seafood production

The world’s oceans are under growing pressure, and the financial sector is waking up to the risks that nature loss poses to economies, supply chains, and long‑term stability. Yet banks and investors still lack credible, consistent, and comparable data to assess seafood‑related sustainability risks — limiting their ability to reward responsible practices and scale positive impact.

At the same time, the blue economy is expanding rapidly. New financial instruments such as blue loans and blue bonds are emerging, but only a fraction currently reaches sustainable seafood. With global demand for transparency rising and frameworks like the Taskforce on Nature‑related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) reshaping expectations, the moment is right to embed credible sustainability signals into capital markets.

Why capital markets?

Capital markets have enormous power to change how industries behave. When financial incentives are aligned with sustainability goals, seafood farmers and fisheries are motivated — and rewarded — to improve their environmental and social performance.

ASC and MSC certification offers exactly the kind of trusted, science‑based assurance the finance sector needs. Certification:

Reduces risk through independent audits and robust data
Provides clear sustainability benchmarks
Supports transparent, long‑term monitoring across supply chains

This makes certification a practical, cost‑effective tool for banks, investors, and blended finance models seeking measurable environmental outcomes.

Our joint capital markets strategy

ASC and MSC are partnering to connect responsible seafood production with responsible finance. Our shared strategy aims to make certification a recognised, decision‑ready indicator within global finance — helping capital flow towards fisheries, farms, and seafood businesses that operate sustainably. The first phase focuses on major financial centres — the US, EU/UK, and Japan — while building early momentum in key emerging markets such as Indonesia and Mexico.

Interest is growing quickly. Deutsche Bank has already announced it will lend only to ASC‑certified aquaculture, signalling increasing confidence among mainstream financial institutions. Other organisations that we have been engaging with include BNP Paribas, Norges Bank, T. Rowe Price, IFC, WWF, J.P. Morgan, Mizuho, Nomura Asset Management, DBS and OECD.

Creating credible, decision‑grade sustainability metrics

To support investors’ need for reliable ESG information, ASC and MSC are developing a prototype dashboard that translates certification data into clear sustainability indicators designed for financial decision‑makers. Co‑created with the seafood and blue finance sectors this tool will help investors compare performance across portfolios and accelerate uptake of certified responsible seafood.

The two-year project concludes in May 2026, but ASC and MSC will continue to refine and advance the concept beyond this milestone. This project was made possible thanks to a grant from the ISEAL Innovations Fund, which is supported by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO. The ISEAL project provided a launching pad for the development of the strategy. Together, these efforts will expand access to finance and reward fisheries and farms that invest in sustainable practices.

Looking ahead

By engaging early with investors, banks, and finance policymakers, ASC and MSC are helping to build understanding of the real‑world impact of certification. Over time, we expect to see more sustainability‑linked loans and bonds tied to ASC and MSC certification, deeper investor engagement, and wider recognition that responsible seafood production is not only possible — it is financially advantageous.