Ocean Economist is an independent news and analysis platform covering the global ocean economy. This Editorial Policy sets out the principles that govern everything we publish — from breaking news to long-form analysis and expert commentary. It applies to everyone who reports, edits, or contributes to Ocean Economist.
1) Editorial independence
Our journalism is produced independently. Editorial decisions — what we cover, how we cover it, and what we conclude — are made by our editorial team alone and are never determined by advertisers, sponsors, partners, or commercial interests.
Advertising and sponsored content are always clearly labelled and kept separate from editorial reporting. No outside party is given the right to review or approve editorial content before publication.
2) Accuracy and sourcing
Our reporting is based on verifiable facts, primary documents, named sources where possible, and credible data. We attribute information to its source and link to original material so readers can assess it for themselves.
- We verify claims before publishing and seek more than one source for material facts.
- We distinguish clearly between reporting, analysis, and opinion.
- We provide context — figures, timelines, and background — rather than isolated claims.
- Where a story is developing and facts are incomplete, we say so.
3) Mission and coverage priorities
The ocean is central to global trade, energy, food systems, and climate stability, yet it remains under-covered in mainstream financial and sustainability media. Our mission is to bring serious, independent attention to ocean-related risks, opportunities, and long-term trends.
We prioritise coverage of:
- Ocean finance, investment, and the blue economy
- Shipping, ports, and maritime trade
- Offshore renewable energy and ocean climate solutions
- Fisheries, aquaculture, and food security
- Marine biodiversity and conservation
- Coastal resilience, policy, and governance
4) Authorship and bylines
Articles carry a byline identifying the author or, where content is produced by our newsroom, an Ocean Economist Editorial Team attribution. Expert and guest contributions are clearly identified as such, along with the contributor's role and affiliation. Our editorial team is described on the Editorial Team page.
5) Use of artificial intelligence
Our journalism is reported and edited by people. We may use software tools for research, transcription, or translation, but no article is published without a human reviewing it, and a named human editor is accountable for its accuracy. We do not use generative AI to write our articles.
6) Conflicts of interest
Contributors must disclose any financial, professional, or personal interest relevant to a story. Where a conflict cannot be avoided, it is disclosed to readers within the article.
7) Corrections and feedback
We correct errors openly and promptly. If you believe we have published something inaccurate, please see our Corrections Policy. Our standards for verifying information are described in our Fact-Checking Policy and our wider conduct is governed by our Ethics & Standards.
8) Contact
Questions about our editorial standards can be sent to [email protected].