On April 27, 2022, the One Ocean Hub submitted written evidence to the UN Special Rapporteur on Cultural Rights and sustainable development. The submission pointed out that blue economy developments did not take into account the cultural rights and spiritual dimensions of ocean-dependent indigenous peoples and small-scale fishers. The submission cited examples from Ghana, Namibia, and South Africa where traditional practices, customary norms, and cultural heritage were disregarded in decision-making processes on the blue economy, particularly for the indigenous peoples. The submission also emphasized that barriers to the inclusion of cultural rights in blue economies are due to the lack of recognition of local communities’ and indigenous peoples’ cultural rights and customary norms, as well as a lack of culturally appropriate consultation processes, among others. The submission also highlighted the role of arts in supporting the protection of ocean-related cultural rights and the lessons learned from the inclusion of cultural resources and creative capacities.