Can We Restore the Ocean? The Global Shift from Protection to Recovery

International leaders in ocean science, biodiversity, investment and innovation gather in Finland to explore how the next decade can move beyond protection and towards recovery.

For decades, the conversation about our oceans has focused on protection. Yet despite global commitments, marine ecosystems continue to decline. Around the world, scientists, innovators and policymakers are beginning to ask a more ambitious question:

Can we restore the ocean?

How do we move beyond slowing the damage and create solutions that allow both people and the ocean to flourish? What will it take to restore biodiversity, rethink the way we produce food and materials and create solutions that allow both people and the ocean to thrive?

These are some of the questions discussed at A'Pelago Initiative 2026 – We Are the Ocean, taking place on 19–20 August in Turku, Finland.

The two-day event brings together some of the world's leading thinkers and practitioners to explore what the future of our oceans could look like — and how we get there.

Rather than focusing only on the challenges, the programme highlights solutions already taking shape. From restoring marine biodiversity and developing new ocean-based materials to exploring the future of Blue Food, cleaner shipping and the role of artificial intelligence in understanding marine ecosystems, the discussions are centred on one idea: creating a healthier relationship between people and the ocean.

"For a long time we've measured success by how much less harm we can do. Today, we have an opportunity to ask a much more exciting question: how can we leave the ocean healthier than we found it?" says Alina Sippolainen, Accelerator Lead & Ecosystem Advisor at A'Pelago. "The question is no longer just how we reduce our impact, but how we can actively contribute to healthier marine ecosystems. That's why we bring together people who see the challenge from different perspectives but share the same ambition: to turn ideas into action."

The programme features internationally recognised experts from organisations, universities, foundations, startups and companies working on some of today's most pressing ocean challenges. Interactive Deep Dive sessions will explore topics including biodiversity offsetting, marine materials, Blue Food, AI for Ocean and maritime decarbonisation, giving participants the opportunity to engage directly with the people driving these developments.

Healthy oceans affect all of us. They regulate our climate, provide food for billions of people, support livelihoods and are home to extraordinary biodiversity. As the global conversation evolves from conservation alone to creating lasting positive impact, collaboration across disciplines has never been more important.

Held under the theme "We Are the Ocean," A'Pelago Initiative invites everyone working with or inspired by the future of our oceans to join the conversation. Whether your work begins in a laboratory, on the water, in a startup, a classroom or a boardroom, A'Pelago Initiative invites everyone working towards a healthier future for our oceans to join the conversation.

A'Pelago Initiative 2026 – We Are the Ocean
19–20 August 2026
Ruissalon Telakka, Turku, Finland