Blue Ethics and Ocean Values

Human societies have long maintained a profound relationship with the ocean, yet this connection continues to challenge prevailing paradigms of marine governance. Despite a growing global commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 14 ‘Life Below Water’, the dominant perception of the ocean as an expansive, extractable resource persists. This world view is deeply embedded in international legal frameworks and underpins the logic of blue economic growth and wealth creation. However, as legal mechanisms struggle to respond swiftly to the accelerating impacts of climate change, and enforcement capacities remain limited, it becomes increasingly necessary to explore alternative frameworks for guiding human activity at sea. In this context, ethical approaches offer critical insights and tools. Developing a robust understanding of ocean values and articulating a ‘blue ethics’ can help shift governance beyond reliance on static baselines. This chapter explores five foundational ethical values that may inform the development of a blue ethical framework for ocean governance. These values reflect not only the distinctive characteristics of marine environments but also the multifaceted relationships – personal, cultural, and societal – that shape human interactions with the ocean. They have the potential to guide both transformative governance models and the ethical expansion of marine commercial activity.