According to the Marine Energy Group, the creation of these new positions could contribute £2.5 billion to Scotland's economy.
Scottish cabinet secretary for finance and sustainable growth John Swinney said: "With unrivalled marine resources and a range of wave, tidal and offshore wind development already under way, Scotland leads the way in generating energy from the sea.
"Marine energy will be key to Scotland's future energy mix and that's why we changed our support mechanisms to give greater assistance to wave and tidal energy in Scotland than anywhere else in the UK.
"The report, put together by industry, highlights the actions it believes we need to deliver a commercial scale industry. It confirms there could be 12,500 Scottish jobs in marine renewables by 2020, a huge boost for the economy and a long-term platform for sustainable growth.
"This report is an excellent example of collaboration in the public and private sectors. The recommendations are very much industry-driven and we will consider their views very carefully as we continue to build a world leading renewables sector."
