The social productivity of marine conflicts: Lessons from Ocean Defenders and offshore resistance in Argentina

Abstract

The global expansion of the ocean economy has intensified pressures on marine territories, exposing persistent tensions between economic growth, ecological sustainability, and social justice. Across the world, local communities are mobilizing to defend their oceans from extractive industries, forming what the Ocean Defenders Project (2025) has identified as a growing global movement for marine justice. This article examines the conflict over offshore oil exploration in Mar del Plata, Argentina, situating it alongside similar struggles in Brazil, Peru, Ghana, and South Africa. Through a comparative and analytical perspective, it argues that ocean defenders not only resist extractivism but also generate new forms of participation, legitimacy, and institutional learning. While the Argentine case has yet to achieve substantial policy changes, its social productivity reveals pathways toward innovation and transformation. By drawing lessons from other movements, this article proposes ways in which the Ocean Defenders framework can support the evolution of marine activism and governance in Argentina.