We are pleased to share the 2025 Edinburgh Ocean Leaders Impact Report, released five years after the launch of the programme. The report captures how this growing global community is advancing practical, scalable solutions to some of the ocean’s most complex challenges.
To better understand the reach and influence of the programme, we conducted a survey and a series of individual interviews with members of the Ocean Leaders community. These insights have helped us assess the progress of the initiative and reflect on how the programme continues to support distributed, creative, and empowered leadership as a critical driver of ocean-positive change.
The report highlights a range of outcomes from the past five years — supported by case studies, quotes, and impact metrics — showing how the programme has helped amplify the work of Leaders across sectors and geographies. While the report highlights specific examples, we know there are many more stories we could have shared — a testament to the depth and breadth of the Ocean Leaders’ efforts.
Collective outcomes from the Ocean Leader community to date include:
690,000 km² of Marine Protected Areas supported across 28 countries
Positive impact on over 200,000 people in coastal communities
Sustainable fisheries strengthened in 22 countries
70 legal and regulatory changes in ocean governance
Ocean literacy initiatives reaching hundreds of thousands globally
$22M in ocean investment and $27M in ocean philanthropy mobilised
The 2025 report reflects both the achievements of the past five years and the continued potential of a connected, cross-disciplinary leadership community committed to ocean health and resilience.
