In a boardroom in Oban, Scotland, trustees of the Scottish Association for Marine Science (Sams) have long watched Atlantic waves through the window. But as of last month, the ocean has a literal seat at the table - the 140-year-old institution has appointed the sea as a formal trustee, complete with a human representative to voice its opinions on corporate decisions.

Director Nick Owens, a marine scientist, realized that while humanity has grown conscious of its planetary impact, ethical decisions remain stubbornly anthropocentric. Inspired by Indigenous cultures' connection to nature and a growing global push for legal recognition of the environment, Owens decided the ocean needed a vote - not just a nice view.

Sams joins a small but budding movement: Faith in Nature, an eco-beauty company, made nature a board member in 2022, and about 25 other organizations in Britain, France, Belgium, the US, and Australia have followed suit. A French Green party MP even proposed a law requiring nature representation on large company boards.

To make it work, Sams convened a working group to tackle tricky questions: How to define 'ocean'? (Planet-wide, including seabed and lower airspace, excluding human activities.) Who speaks for it? (Environmental lawyer Helen Mitcheson, who had to interrupt the first meeting after 20 minutes of ocean-less chatter.) Does it get veto power? (No, but it gets a say in all discussions.)

The move isn't just symbolic - the ocean trustee's remit will be added to Sams' constitution to prevent greenwashing accusations. Owens admits it could lead to rejecting lucrative contracts or shunning industries like aquaculture. But he insists the goal is objective, fact-based guidance: 'We might decide not to work with a particular industry, but we have not done so yet.'

Internally, the shift has been surprisingly smooth. Owens now overhears staff asking, 'What would the ocean think about this?' during coffee breaks. He hopes the decision will boost sustainability and attract philanthropic funding, arguing that capitalism got us into this mess and boardrooms will be key to getting us out. 'I genuinely believe that in a decade or so this will be common practice,' he says.