Centering Equity in Ocean Governance

Centering Equity in Ocean Governance

From People Places Planet by Environmental Law Institute

February 25, 2026 · 38 min · Season 8 · Episode 14

About this episode

This episode discusses the concept of ocean equity and its importance in marine conservation and ocean law.

What does equity look like in ocean governance? In this episode of People, Places, Planet , host Sebastian Duque Rios speaks with Yoshitaka Ota of Ocean Nexus and Randall Abate, ELI Visiting Scholar, about the emerging concept of ocean equity —and why centering social justice is essential to the future of marine conservation and ocean law. From marine protected areas and small-scale fisheries to deep sea mining, marine geoengineering, and the rights of nature movement, the conversation explores how traditional environmental governance frameworks have often failed to address systemic marginalization in coastal and Indigenous communities. Drawing on anti-subordination theory, environmental justice, and human rights law, the guests explain how ocean equity moves beyond consultation toward meaningful power-sharing—including rethinking free, prior, and informed consent, stewardship-based resource management, and the intersection of human rights and marine conservation. For environmental lawyers, policymakers, and ocean governance professionals, this episode offers a forward-looking framework for aligning conservation, climate action, and justice. What is ocean equity? (04:08) From EJ…

People in this episode

Host: Sebastian Duque Rios

Guests: Yoshitaka Ota, Randall Abate

Topics covered

  • ocean governance
  • equity
  • marine conservation
  • social justice
  • environmental justice

Keywords

  • ocean equity
  • marine protected areas
  • small-scale fisheries
  • deep sea mining
  • human rights

Mentioned in this episode

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