Beyond the Footprint: How to Turn Data into an Ocean Strategy
Five essentials to steer through rough seas
You’ve done the math in our latest article The Math Behind Biodiversity Footprinting. Now you know where your business depends on the ocean, and where it leaves a mark. But a footprint is only a snapshot. It shows what is, not what 👏🏽 to 👏🏽 do 👏🏽 next. This is where many strategies stall: they measure, publish a number... and stop short of action.
Yet the ocean doesn’t need more reports, it needs decisions from leaders ready to turn data into action.
Here are the five essentials to move beyond measurement and build a credible, actionable ocean strategy.
Moshun.Earth copyright. All rights reserved.
Moshun.Earth copyright. All rights reserved.
1. SECURE
Before drafting a single line of your ocean strategy, make sure it won’t gather dust in a drawer. Three non-negotiables need to be in place:
- Science: a credible, science-based footprint assessment you can stand behind.
- Resources: a dedicated budget and a team empowered to act.
- Leadership: a bold vision that is owned at the top.
Output → Internal Validation
A green light from leadership that the basics are in place: a credible footprint assessment, a dedicated budget, and executive sponsorship. Without this sign-off, the strategy risks dying before it even begins.
2. ANALYSE
Strategy begins with clarity. The first step is to translate your footprint assessment into a set of adaptation and mitigation actions. The Science Based Targets Network (SBTn) recommends the AR3T sequence: Avoid, Reduce, Restore & Regenerate, Transform.
SBTn AR3T framework
SBTn AR3T framework
For each action, evaluate two dimensions:
- Magnitude: how much positive impact the action can deliver.
- Constraints: the complexity and cost of implementing it.
Plotting these dimensions creates an Actions Matrix, which makes your priorities visible. Not every action has the same return on effort though, and the goal is to identify the ones that truly move the needle.
Output → Actions Matrix
A clear map of possible actions, ranked by magnitude vs. complexity & cost. This matrix makes it obvious which interventions deserve priority and which can be parked for later.
3. BUILD
This is where vision meets execution. An ocean strategy cannot be written in isolation; it should be shaped collaboratively, bringing together your key business units (such as finance, operations, sustainability, risk, regional offices, etc.) under the guidance of a senior leader with decision-making authority.
The process starts by answering five core questions:
- Why are you setting this strategy? Is your primary motivation about risk mitigation, compliance, brand positioning, ethics, or return on investment?
- What and where are your top priorities? All impacts or the critical few? The full value chain, or selected hotspots?
- What targets will you commit to? Make sure they are science-based, time-bound, and measurable over time.
- How much will you allocate? Define the scale, scope, and ambition of your investment.
- Do you want to lead? Beyond risk management, will you design a financial strategy to actively regenerate the ocean?
Output → Ocean Strategy
A company-wide strategy that defines your “why,” your priorities, your science-based targets, and your level of ambition in a clear, science-grounded roadmap aligned with corporate priorities and stakeholder expectations.
At Moshun, we support this step with the Ocean Value Assessment for Investability (OVAI), our dedicated project assessment tool: a framework-backed system that evaluates the credibility and profitability of regeneration projects. It connects companies with trusted partners, secures investments, ensures transparent monitoring, and delivers tangible returns on both impact and reputation.
Ocean Value Assessment for Investability (OVAI), Prototype 2025. Moshun.Earth copyright. All rights reserved.
Ocean Value Assessment for Investability (OVAI), Prototype 2025. Moshun.Earth copyright. All rights reserved.
4. FIX
A strategy without execution is just wishful thinking. The action plan is where ambition turns into measurable progress. For each priority and time-bound target, define the concrete steps that will get you there.
Your plan should spell out:
- Budget: what resources are allocated.
- Team & RACI: who is Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed.
- Stakeholders & Governance: who needs to be engaged, and how decisions will be made.
- Key Impact Indicators (KIIs): the indicators that show whether you are on track, and by how much.
It seems like a no-brainer but even the best-laid plans can stall. Here are three common mistakes to avoid:
- Over-engineering: drowning in endless KIIs and committees without ever moving to action.
- Under-resourcing: setting bold targets without matching budget or capacity.
- Fire-and-forget: drafting the plan, launching it with fanfare… then never tracking progress.
Output → First Action Plan
A pragmatic, resourced plan that translates the strategy into projects, KIIs, and accountability. Think of it as your launch-ready version 1.0, built to evolve but solid enough to deliver results from day one.
5. SUSTAIN
Owning an ocean strategy is only the beginning, the real test is keeping it alive. Execution, monitoring, and course-correcting over time are what separate good intentions from measurable impact. A successful strategy consistently delivers on scope, on budget, on time, and on quality.
To make this happen, ask yourself:
- Is the strategy team backed by a senior leader who can unlock resources and resolve roadblocks?
- Are different business units truly integrated, or are they working in silos?
- Have you planned regular touchpoints, dedicated time, and a realistic budget to sustain momentum?
Because let’s face it: without governance and iteration, strategies tend to fade into PowerPoint slides.
Output → Governance in action
A structured cadence of governance moments such as quarterly reviews, progress updates, and stakeholder check-ins, that keep the strategy alive, adaptable, and delivering over the years.
From Intentions to Impact
Intentions don’t come true by magic. They only turn into impact when paired with realistic targets and well-managed plans. Otherwise, strategies risk staying in the realm of “nice words” and never crossing into measurable change.
The good news? There is a more responsible, profitable, and inspirational way forward. With the right frameworks and governance, your ocean strategy becomes more than a compliance exercise: it becomes a driver of resilience, reputation, and regeneration.
At Moshun, we help organizations deliver this transformation end to end: from biodiversity footprinting, to strategy design, to connecting with high-integrity regeneration projects, and tracking recovery on the field. The result is action that companies can confidently report on, and that nature can actually feel.
So why stop at good intentions?
Let’s turn them into ocean wins.
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