Richard Branson: ‘We need to fuel innovation that works with nature, not against it’

I’ve been lucky enough to swim with sharks, sail across oceans and dive into the deep blue. Every experience has left me more in awe of the ocean – and more determined to protect it.

Covering more than 70% of our planet, the ocean regulates our climate, produces more than half of the oxygen we breathe and supports countless ecosystems and communities. Right now, the ocean is under immense stress from overfishing, plastic pollution, rising temperatures, acidification and biodiversity loss. These aren’t distant challenges – they’re here now, and they affect every one of us.

“Awaken New Depths” is the theme of this year’s World Oceans Day  – a powerful invitation to think differently, to innovate boldly and to involve everyone in the mission to restore our oceans. There are extraordinary individuals all over the world who are dedicating their lives to redefining our relationship with the sea – from freedivers exploring uncharted depths to surfers advocating for cleaner coastlines, their stories, retold most recently in David Attenborough’s impressive film Ocean, are both a wake-up call and a source of hope.

To help harness this hope and vision I’m proud to be supporting the recently launched VI Purpose Fund in the Virgin Islands, in partnership with the non-profit foundation Unite BVI. This fund will invest in brilliant entrepreneurs committed to restoring marine ecosystems, developing sustainable ocean-based livelihoods, and unlocking new opportunities for local communities across the British Virgin Islands.

The fund is all about backing those who are building a regenerative future – from coral reef restoration and climate-resilient tourism to sustainable fisheries and new circular economies. My dream is that we fuel innovation that works with nature, not against it, and ensure that the ocean economy benefits everyone it touches.

Working alongside the Planetary Guardians in recent years has been a humbling and eye-opening journey. Protecting the planet isn’t about isolated efforts – it’s about seeing the Earth as one interconnected system, where oceans, forests, people and climate all depend on one another. The Guardians have challenged me to think bigger, listen deeper, and act bolder – and on this World Oceans Day I invite you all to do the same.

Across the BVI and beyond, we have a chance to spark fresh ideas, from ocean-friendly alternatives to plastic, to supply chains that give back more than they take. Let’s make space for voices that have too often been left out, and work together, because protecting the ocean, like protecting our planet, is something none of us can do alone.

With the 2025 UN Ocean Conference, Climate Week NYC and COP30 in Brazil fast approaching, we have critical opportunities on the horizon – deadlines that demand urgent, united action.

Through bold ideas and partnerships, we have the chance to restore what’s been lost and re-imagine a future where people and planet thrive together. Let’s give back to the ocean that has given us so much.

Photograph by Owen Billcliffe