The ocean crisis demands a new kind of science

Accelerating ocean crises driven by interacting stressors such as fossil-fuel-driven warming and inequitable governance are pushing marine systems toward tipping points with cascading global impacts. Here, we call for ocean science to move beyond observation toward active engagement by forging strategic alliances, centring storytelling, and acknowledging the political nature of science. By engaging in this manner, ocean scientists can help transform crisis into opportunity, rebuilding the science-society interface to advance more resilient and just ocean futures.