Our Goal - Ocean Central

About

Ocean Central provides a comprehensive view of ocean health and how our actions affect it. We bring together ocean data, expert insights, news and analysis in one place.

The ocean is vital to the health of our planet, the global economy, and our collective wellbeing

Covers 70% of Earth's surface

Contains 80% of all life on Earth

Sequesters 30% of global CO2 emissions

This famous photograph of Earth, known as the Blue Marble, was captured during the Apollo 17 mission on December 7, 1972, from about 29,400 kilometers (18,300 miles) above the surface. The image highlights Earth’s vast, interconnected oceans, emphasizing their vital role in regulating the planet’s climate and ecosystems.

Our Story

For years, information about the ocean has been fragmented, technical, and hard to interpret. In 2024, Wave, powered by FII, launched Ocean Central as a hub for ocean insights, offering a clear, evolving view of ocean health and the issues that shape it.

We set out to communicate the state of ocean health — and how human activity affects it — by connecting the latest data, explanation, and action. Along the way, we’ve shown that ocean data gaps are significant. But we also know how important it is not to let the search for perfect data delay action. We know enough to act.

Our Approach

Ocean Central is guided by the scientific framework set out in Rebuilding Marine Life, the seminal paper for restoring ocean health co-authored by Wave Chief Scientist Carlos Duarte.

We track ocean health through two living indicators: the abundance of marine life and the coverage of ecosystems. Data across six key areas — marine life, ecosystems, marine protection, pollution, climate, and harvesting — highlight the key areas to act on ocean health and help explain how human activity shapes these outcomes.

We pair datasets with expert analysis, examples of what has worked, ideas for taking action, and interactive visualizations to help users understand pressures on the ocean and where action can make a difference.

How We Work With Data

As a site that aims to provide a comprehensive picture of ocean health, we use global, publicly available datasets. We show what we know and what we do not know. Data gaps are featured alongside the data, clearly cited and linked, with a detailed repository of methods and references on GitHub.

View Data Gaps Report

Protect Marine Life

Current
Status
Current
Trend
Geographic
Coverage
Global
Goals

Fish
Mammals
Reptiles
Birds

Data Gap
Partial Data Gap
Sufficient Data

Our Ambition

Countries are setting ambitious targets to regenerate a thriving ocean, but what has been missing is a clear view of the journey — a true picture of progress.

We aim to make Ocean Central a first stop to understanding where we are in our journey to regenerate the ocean and what action is needed to get there. Designed for policymakers, researchers, NGOs, and anyone seeking to understand ocean health and restoration progress, our objective is simple: a clearer view of ocean health, and a basis for action.