Rethinking marine restoration permitting to urgently advance efforts

authored by

Richard K.F. Unsworth, Michael Sweet, Laura L. Govers, Sophie von der Heyden, Adriana Vergés, Daniel A. Friess, Benjamin L.H. Jones, Margaux A.A. Monfared, Rune C. Steinfurth, Jose M. Fariñas-Franco, Leanne C. Cullen-Unsworth, Timi L. Banke, Fiona Tomas, Bowdoin W. Lusk, Anouska F. Mendzil, Alison J. Debney, William G. Sanderson, Esther Thomsen, Joanne Preston, Elizabeth A. Lacey, Kristina Boerder, Rowana Walton, Tali Vadi, Jen Brand, Maike Paul

Abstract

Marine biodiversity is rapidly declining, necessitating global political and financial solutions to prioritize habitat restoration in a “blue revolution.” However, marine and coastal restoration faces major technical, logistical, and resource challenges that are exacerbated by climate change, which must be urgently addressed. Unlike terrestrial restoration, marine efforts lack a long history or well-established methods, resulting in potentially high failure rates and a pressing need for innovation. As scientists and practitioners, we argue that scaling marine and coastal restoration requires policy reform, scientific advancement, and more adaptive regulatory frameworks. Current approaches are constrained by unrealistic ecological baselines and outdated assumptions about environmental stability. Licensing must move beyond recreating past habitats and instead support resilient ecosystems, ecological connectivity, and future colonization pathways. We need to rethink restoration for a changing world, guided by flexible systems that embrace uncertainty, integrate new technologies, and prioritize long-term coastal resilience over short-term fixes.

Organisation(s)

Ludwig-Franzius-Institute of Hydraulics, Estuarine and Coastal Engineering

External Organisation(s)

Swansea University
Project Seagrass
University of Derby
University of Groningen
Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research - NIOZ
University of Stellenbosch
University of New South Wales (UNSW)
Tulane University School of Science and Engineering
Blue Pangolin Consulting Ltd
University of Southern Denmark
Atlantic Technological University
Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)
The Nature Conservancy
Zoological Society of London Institute of Zoology
Heriot-Watt University
GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
University of Portsmouth
Dalhousie University
UNEP-WCMC
Coral Restoration Consortium

Type

Review article

Journal

Cell Reports Sustainability

Volume

2

Publication date

21.11.2025

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment, Ecology, Environmental Science (miscellaneous), Water Science and Technology

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG 13 - Climate Action, SDG 14 - Life Below Water, SDG 15 - Life on Land

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crsus.2025.100526 (Access: Open)