Summary
America’s Living Ocean is a multi-year initiative by the ASU Center for Biodiversity Outcomes to help translate ocean biodiversity knowledge into real-world decisions that shape the future of U.S. marine ecosystems and coastal economies.
Following the release of the U.S. National Ocean Biodiversity Strategy in June 2024, America’s Living Ocean (ALO) responds to a critical challenge: while vast amounts of ocean biodiversity data exist, much of it remains difficult to access, interpret, or apply in policy, management, and business decision-making. At the same time, recent shifts in federal capacity underscore the need for broader engagement across society to sustain progress.
This project brings together researchers, civil society organizations, policymakers, and private-sector leaders to better understand who uses ocean biodiversity information, how it is used, and where critical gaps remain. Through landscape mapping, partnership analysis, and targeted engagement with the corporate sustainability community, the project identifies opportunities to align biodiversity science with the decisions that most directly affect ocean health.
By strengthening connections between science, policy, and the private sector, America’s Living Ocean aims to broaden participation in ocean stewardship and help ensure that biodiversity knowledge leads to lasting, positive outcomes for marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.
Our Research
Anchored in the goals of the original U.S. National Ocean Biodiversity Strategy, the ALO project addresses a persistent implementation gap: despite substantial investment in ocean science and policy, biodiversity information is unevenly incorporated into decisions related to development, resource management, and private-sector planning. Constraints in federal stewardship capacity further heighten the importance of cross-sector collaboration and non-governmental leadership.
ALO combines interdisciplinary research with targeted stakeholder engagement to achieve three core objectives:
- Map the landscape of actors and policies shaping ocean biodiversity decision-making, including civil society, governmental, and private-sector organizations.
- Identify gaps and opportunities in collaboration, knowledge production, and knowledge use to catalyze effective action to promote marine biodiversity.
- Translate biodiversity knowledge into actionable forms, particularly for private-sector decision-makers whose activities both depend on and impact marine ecosystems.
Key deliverables include a data-rich actor and policy landscape analysis; identification of cross sector research and coordination needs; and practical outreach products tailored to business and policy audiences. Engagement activities such as convenings and targeted workshops support co-production of insights and foster durable partnerships.
Collectively, these outputs are designed to support more proactive, evidence-based decisions that reduce risk, unlock economic opportunity, and contribute to long-term ocean biodiversity conservation. ALO positions CBO as a national leader in translating biodiversity science into outcomes that matter across sectors.