Mission-driven Expertise
Founded in 2016, Ocean Assets Institute drives capital to the blue economy by:
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Raising capital for ocean ventures
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Advising financial institutions & governments on blue finance
Organisation
On our mission to help finance healthy oceans & coastal communities,
we are honoured to work with top partners in two areas:
Ocean Assets Institute
Research & Advisory
Development Finance, Impact Investors & Governments
BlueDeals Platform
Capital Introductions & Co-Funding of selected projects
Team
Ocean Assets Institute is a flexible team, led by Mr. Adams and daughter Mirabelle, with experts engaged on projects to drive private investment and advise multilateral financial institutions for a sustainable Blue Economy .
Founder & CEO
D. Michael Adams
Michael founded Ocean Assets in 2016 after a 30-year career in investment banking and a lifelong passion for the ocean. At that time, there were few financial initiatives targeting the blue economy and ocean issues. He established Ocean Assets Institute to fill that gap and to drive private capital to impactful ocean-related projects worldwide.
Michael previously founded The Journal of Investing and Pedigree Investments​, raising capital and structuring alternative investment funds.
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Michael and his family lived in the Bahamas (2006-9) where they funded coral reef studies and participated in several marine ecosystem initiatives. He earned a MSc from Columbia University.
Lead, Regenerative Systems
Mirabelle Adams
Mirabelle leads the Regenerative Systems projects - including Blue Foods, Marine Conservation & Restoration. She engages with investors, tracks research and builds our pipeline of Regenerative projects.
She has led several projects for our group and, recently, for the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund. Internships have enriched her practical skills and networks in shipping, seaweed, marine conservation and plastics.
Mirabelle holds a BSc in International Business Management from HEG Geneva (2025). She was awarded the Student Engagement Prize, recognising her leadership of several initiatives during her years at HEG. She speaks English, French, German and Japanese.
Advisory Council
Our Advisors are recognised experts who help us stay true to our mission of supporting blue economy finance
Expert, Ocean Governance
Dominique BENZAKEN, PhD.
Expert, Blue Economy Investment
Sophie BIRO
Sustainable Blue Economy, WWF
Louise HEAPS
Founder, ZESTA - Zero Emission Shipping
Madadh MACLAINE
Director General, WorldFish
Essam Y. MOHAMMED, PhD
Expert, Digital & Supply Chain Finance
Ian SAYERS
Our Story
Since our inception in 2016, Ocean Assets has grown a strong ecosystem of financial and implementing partners, on top of having successfully raised capital for select blue economy projects.
2016-2017
After 30 years in investment banking, Michael Adams founded Ocean Assets (OAI) to combine his skills in capital raising with a passion for the ocean. OAI started as an advisory service specialized in the blue economy, at a time when few people were aware of the crisis facing our oceans. We participated on the Marine Assets Committee of Climate Bonds Initiative, and researched financing issues for sustainable shipping, ports, seafood and energy.
2018-19
OAI is engaged by the European Commission, with a small expert team, to map funding gaps in the EU's blue economy and establish a full spectrum of resources for investors, projects and experts. The result is the launch of the highly regarded BlueInvest Platform, featuring deal-matching, pitch events, project coaching and a catalytic Fund of Funds. BlueInvest continues to drive capital to the sustainable blue economy and is admired as a model for other regions.
2020-2022
The Asian Development Bank commits USD 5 billion to the blue economy, and mandates Ocean Assets Institute I to scope the ocean funding gap across Southeast Asia and the Pacific. The report provides a clear view on the region's investment needs, and serves as the basis for the ADB's first Blue Bond, increased local bank on-lending to maritime projects and, of course, launch of the BlueDeals platform. Mandates from other multi-lateral organisations continue to be executed by the OAI team, year after year.
2023-24
BlueDeals launches with Asian-based projects for investors and grantors worldwide. Project sectors range from sustainable aquaculture, ocean tech, blue natural capital, coastal resilience, green shipping and marine energy. BlueDeals works across the capital stack, raising equity, grants, and sustainability-linked loans to ensure alignment of funders-projects.
2025-26
BlueDeals adds projects from Europe and Africa to the original Asian portfolio. Capital is raised from all investor types and regions for projects worldwide. We partner with accelerator programs and corporate investors to scale project growth. Speaking engagements continue to provide opportunities to share our experience in all regions and blue economy sectors.
