The 2026 Starfish Barometer

Abstract

The Ocean plays a central role in regulating climate, sustaining biodiversity, and supporting human societies, yet it is experiencing increasing environmental change driven by human activities. The Starfish Barometer provides an annual, science-based synthesis of global Ocean-related developments. It does not generate new data, but brings together already available siloed information. It is structured around five interconnected dimensions – the five arms of the Starfish: Ocean state, human pressures, societal harms, protection efforts, and opportunities for humanity. This article presents the second edition of the Barometer, released each year on World Ocean Day (8 June). In the 2026 Barometer, key highlights confirm the consequences and intensification of human pressures on the Ocean. Global sea-level rise and Ocean warming are accelerating; the number of identified threatened marine species continues to rise, and the level of threat they experience is intensifying. Over 84 % of global coral reefs are at risk, exposed to bleaching-level heat stress. Annual plastic waste generation reached 130 million t, with up to 10 % potentially reaching the Ocean. Global shipping emissions remain stable indicating limited decarbonization progress. Economic losses from tropical storms and floods were particularly high in 2024, illustrating how human pressures are translating into material costs for societies. Geopolitical instability has increased maritime insurance costs, and half of the social cost of climate change falls on the Ocean economy. Major in-situ ocean observing systems are shrinking reducing Ocean protection capacity. In parallel, protection efforts continue to expand. Stronger protection rules for rays and sharks have been adopted, reflecting gradual progress in conservation ambition. A treaty for the High Seas has been adopted, providing a legal framework to protect and govern the Ocean. More than 2000 Ocean startups worldwide are also contributing to innovation, with a growing will for sustainable Ocean development and Ocean-focused environmentally beneficial investments. Taken together, these signals show a growing gap between increasing human pressures on the Ocean and the efforts being made to protect it and drive change. While governance frameworks, financial commitments, and innovation ecosystems are advancing, current trajectories remain insufficient to meet global biodiversity, climate and Ocean sustainability objectives, as reflected for example in SDG 14, the link to other SDGs, and related international frameworks (von Schuckmann et al., 2020). By compiling robust, evidence-based information within a consistent annual framework guided by international and multidisciplinary expertise, the Starfish Barometer provides a transparent and evidence-based foundation to support accountability for a sustainable Ocean.