We stand at a pivotal moment in ocean conservation — a time of accelerating change, emerging technologies and unprecedented global commitments to protect nature. Blue Horizons was built for this moment, providing the foresight, flexibility and catalytic resources needed for new ideas to take root and scale.
As part of Conservation International’s Center for Oceans, Blue Horizons helps experts think beyond the immediate — identifying what’s next, testing bold ideas and scaling the ones that work. By staying ahead of shifting challenges and opportunities, we unlock faster, smarter solutions for a thriving ocean.
Blue Horizons is where bold ideas meet brave action:
- Tackling tough problems where we know what’s wrong — but not yet how to fix it
- Testing early-stage concepts to de-risk innovation and enable larger investments
- Aligning teams and partners through custom-built strategy workshops to move forward together
- Unlocking growth by backing ideas with the greatest potential to grow and endure
Our team leverages design thinking, lean startup methodologies, real-world testing and strategic partnerships to ensure ocean conservation solutions are practical, adaptable and scalable. With a proven track record and a network of partners ready to engage, Blue Horizons is designed to help secure a thriving ocean and a better future for the communities that depend on it, by making environmental protection irresistible, intuitive and deeply human.
OUR PORTFOLIO
Over time, our challenge-focused investments have yielded exceptional returns, catalyzing new programs, securing major funding and influencing global conservation efforts.
Coral Reefs of the High Seas Coalition
The high seas cover 70 percent of the ocean, yet until recently, had no governance and little protection. Today, this 60-member coalition is shaping one of the first high seas protected areas, in partnership with the government of Chile. An initial US $250,000 investment unlocked US$4 million in additional funding and sparked millions more in in-kind deep-sea research. That research has led to the discovery of 150 new species in one of the least explored places on the planet.
Climate Smart Shrimp
Shrimp aquaculture has been a primary driver of mangrove destruction worldwide. Our Climate Smart Shrimp initiative seeks to transform this harmful industry into a force for ecological restoration. An initial US$75,000 investment unlocked US$3.6 million in funding and earned recognition from the Climate Finance Lab. Now operating in Ecuador and Indonesia, the program is working toward the restoration of 1.7 million hectares of vital mangrove ecosystems in two of the world’s top five shrimp-producing countries.
Blue Nature Alliance
Historically, ocean protection was heavily fragmented and efforts were not adding up to reach global targets. The Blue Nature Alliance was created to solve this challenge, by aligning and accelerating the impact of more than 100 partners. So far, we’ve engaged with 161 existing and potential conservation areas spanning 23.4 million km² — nearly the size of the entire continent of North America. A US$5 million spark helped ignite US$125 million in direct funding, plus millions more through microfinancing.
WHAT’S NEXT
We are looking for bold and visionary partners to join us in reimagining ocean conservation — nurturing the growth of compelling innovations and catalyzing meaningful, lasting change for the ocean. Contact Mariana Prieto, Director of Blue Horizons, at mprieto@conservation.org to learn more.