As the ocean industrial revolution gains pace the need for protection is urgent | Douglas J McCauley

With the growth of the blue economy', the UN must act decisively to protect our shared seas - or industry will decide their fate for us

The ocean is often seen as the last wild frontier: a vast and empty blue wilderness where waves, whales and albatrosses rule. This is no longer true. Unnoticed by many, a new industrial revolution is unfolding in our seas.

The last several decades have seen exponential growth in new marine industries. This includes expansion of offshore oil and gas, but also exponential growth of offshore renewables, such as wind and tidal energy.