They have raised around €200 million for their ocean impact-focused fund to date © Ocean 14 Capital
Ocean 14 has been certified by B Lab, the not-for-profit behind the B Corp movement, as having met rigorous social and environmental standards which represent its commitment to goals outside of shareholder profit.
Applicants for B Corp certification are required to provide evidence of socially and environmentally responsible practices relating to energy supplies, waste and water use, worker compensation, diversity and corporate transparency.
Ocean 14 - whose investment portfolio includes aquaculture companies such as SyAqua, Tilabras and Kingfish Zeeland - is now part of a community of 7,000 businesses globally who have certified as B Corps, including well-known brands such as Patagonia, Kickstarter and ecosia.
The organisation notes that recent attention on the blue economy, which is estimated to be worth more than $1.5 trillion per annum globally , provides more than 30 million jobs and supplies a vital source of protein to more than three billion people, makes the certification "a notable step and signals a shift towards greater accountability and transparency in the sector".
“We are delighted to welcome Ocean 14 Capital to the B Corp community. This is a movement of companies who are committed to changing how business operates and believe business really can be a force for good,” said Chris Turner, executive director of B Lab UK.
“Welcoming Ocean 14 Capital is an exciting moment because they have an opportunity to lead the way within the blue economy. We and the rest of the B Corp community are really pleased to support Ocean 14 Capital in paving the way for a new way of doing things,” he added.
“We are delighted to be joining the B Corp community, as the first impact investment adviser focused solely on the blue economy. It is a great accreditation for doing the right thing as we strive to measure and be measured by the positive impact we will have,” said George Duffield, founding partner and chair of impact at Ocean 14 Capital.
“For the team at Ocean 14 Capital, sourcing investments in the blue economy is about more than making a profit from the ocean. It is about building a sustainable and regenerative ecosystem that supports livelihoods and ocean biodiversity, and enhances the ocean’s role in mitigating climate change,” he added.
Aion and Bureo, two of the Ocean 14 Capital fund’s initial investments, have been B Corp Certified since 2019 and 2015, respectively.
