Summary report, 9–13 June 2025

“The Ocean speaks to us through bleached coral reefs, more frequent and harsher storms, wounded mangroves, and species that will never return.”

The words of Rodrigo Chaves Robles, President of Costa Rica, in his opening remarks, highlighted the urgency to address Ocean-related challenges. “The Ocean is not for sale,” added Emmanuel Macron, President of France, emphasizing the rising pressures and competing interests around the marine environment that can only be appeased through multilateralism, which is currently under duress.

The high-level 2025 UN Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development (the Third UN Ocean Conference or UNOC3), co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, aimed to address these challenges facing the Ocean and focus on action.

UNOC3’s overarching theme, “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the Ocean,” portrays this focus, aiming to build on existing and innovative instruments to form robust partnerships and forge a new relationship between humans and the marine environment, including through the conclusion of ongoing negotiation processes that will contribute to Ocean sustainability.

Overall, UNOC3 was seen as a success. It brought together all stakeholders and allowed for a holistic debate that covered the depth and breadth of required actions necessary to implement SDG 14. Contributing to this, a series of events dedicated to civil society, entitled “We are the Ocean,” took place the week before UNOC3. These included three special UN events: the One Ocean Science Congress, which allowed exchanges among the scientific community; the Ocean Rise and Coastal Resilience Summit, which gave rise to the relevant Coalition uniting coastal cities and small island developing states (SIDS) in the common goal of addressing climate impacts and sea-level rise; and the Blue Economy and Finance Forum (BEFF), which led to significant financial commitments to the blue economy and built partnerships to advance innovative financial tools.

Among the successes of UNOC3, delegates highlighted:

• support for the entry into force of the Agreement under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), illustrated by the announcement of numerous ratifications during the week;
• the announcement of new area-based management initiatives at the national level, with French Polynesia standing out with ongoing plans to place their entire Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) under protection, in line with the 100% Alliance for Sustainable Management;
• the launch of new initiatives, including the High Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean, the Ocean Tourism Pact, and the One Ocean Finance Facility;
• the adoption of the UNOC3 outcome document, a political declaration entitled “Our Ocean, Our Future: United for Urgent Action,” where states reaffirm their strong commitment to conserve and sustainably use the Ocean, seas, and marine resources toward a healthy, productive, and resilient Ocean; and
• financial commitments for the protection of the marine environment, with a total of EUR 8.7 billion over the next five years emanating from the BEFF, an additional EUR 15 billion over the next three years committed by the European Investment Bank to safeguard the EU’s water resources, and commitments from individual states, including Germany and Finland.

UNOC3 took place from 9-13 June 2025, in Nice, France, attracting more than 14,000 delegates and observers, representatives from 175 states including 75 Heads of State and Government, and more than 100,000 participants in the Green Zone devoted to civil society.

A Brief History of the UN Ocean Conference

In September 2015, Heads of State and Government adopted “Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” including 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets. SDG 14 (life below water) contains ten targets, addressing: marine pollution; marine and coastal ecosystems; Ocean acidification; overfishing and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and destructive fishing practices; conservation; harmful fisheries subsidies; economic benefits for SIDS and least developed countries (LDCs); and, as means of implementation, increasing scientific knowledge, providing access to resources and markets for small-scale artisanal fishers, and implementing international law, among others.

UNOC1: Co-hosted by Fiji and Sweden, UNOC1 was held from 5-9 June 2017, at UN Headquarters in New York. UNOC1, among others, aimed to identify ways and means to support the implementation of SDG 14, and enabled the sharing of experiences gained at the national, regional, and international levels. Largely considered a success in building momentum for the implementation of SDG 14 as a central rather than isolated component of the 2030 Agenda, UNOC1 produced an intergovernmentally agreed declaration, “Our Ocean, Our Future: Call for Action,” a registry of 1,328 voluntary commitments, and key messages from the partnership dialogues.

UNOC2: After two years of postponements due to the COVID-19 pandemic, UNOC2, co-hosted by Kenya and Portugal, was held from 27 June - 1 July 2022, in Lisbon, Portugal. Under the theme “Scaling up ocean action based on science and innovation for the implementation of SDG 14: Stocktaking, partnerships and solutions,” UNOC2 sought to advance science-based and innovative actions to address the threats facing the Ocean, in line with the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030).

UNOC2 adopted the declaration “Our Ocean, Our Future, Our Responsibility,” calling for decisive and urgent action to improve the health, productivity, sustainable use, and resilience of the Ocean and its ecosystems; an updated registry of voluntary commitments, with over 300 new commitments announced; and key messages from plenary statements and partnership dialogues.

Preparatory Process: Building on the first two UN Ocean Conferences, the General Assembly, through resolutions 77/242 and 78/128, decided to convene the high-level 2025 UN Conference to Support the Implementation of SDG 14 in France, co-hosted by Costa Rica and France, under the overarching theme “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean.”

In preparation for UNOC3, a stakeholder meeting took place on 7-8 June 2024 in San José, Costa Rica, under the title “High Level Event on Ocean Action: Immersed in Change,” serving as a platform for the exchange of best practices related to Ocean governance and health. Pursuant to resolution 78/128, the President of the General Assembly convened a one-day preparatory meeting for UNOC3, which was held on 2 July 2024 at UN Headquarters in New York, to consider the themes for the Ocean Actional Panels and the elements of the draft political declaration to be adopted by the Conference.

Ocean Conference Report

On Monday, 9 June, UN Secretary-General António Guterres opened the Conference. Delegates elected President Rodrigo Chaves Robles, Costa Rica, and President Emmanuel Macron, France, to serve as the Conference Co-Presidents.

In opening remarks, President Macron highlighted the unprecedented mobilization for the Ocean, stressing its importance and interlinkages with climate and biodiversity. Underscoring the need to revitalize multilateralism and develop open scientific partnerships, Macron emphasized that climate and biodiversity “are not matters of opinion but scientifically established facts.” Pointing to recent developments, Macron underscored that:

• an additional 15 countries had formally committed to ratifying the BBNJ Agreement, noting that it “will soon be implemented”;
• a moratorium on deep-sea mining is a necessity to allow for the protection of deep-sea ecosystems, key carbon reserves, and yet unknown species, emphasizing that “the Ocean is not for sale”;
• the 30 by 30 Target of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) is key, pointing to national efforts toward achieving it;
• the fight against plastic pollution is vital, in particular in the context of the Mediterranean Sea; and
• the agreement reached under the World Trade Organization (WTO) on fisheries subsidies is a crucial step to protect the Ocean.

President Robles emphasized that the Ocean “speaks to us through bleached coral reefs, more frequent and harsher storms, wounded mangroves, and species that will never return.” Underscoring that “the Ocean is not a frontier but a bridge that connects us to our past and future,” Robles lamented that the Ocean has been treated as an infinite food source and a global waste dump, having been left for too long without proper governance and clearly defined rights. Stressing that the choice between protecting or exploiting the marine environment represents a false dichotomy, Robles noted that “the Ocean is not part of the agenda; it is the agenda,” and highlighted national efforts toward its conservation and sustainable use. Robles urged states to ratify the BBNJ Agreement and support a moratorium or precautionary pause on deep-sea mining so that “we don’t pay in the future for the greed of others,” concluding that “protecting the Ocean is not simply an option but a moral and economic imperative.”

“What has been lost in a generation can return in a generation,” stressed UN Secretary-General Guterres, calling for a move from plunder to protection, exclusion to equity, and short-term exploitation to long-term stewardship of the Ocean. Guterres urged delegates, among other things, to: ratify the BBNJ Agreement; develop national plans aligned with GBF targets for marine and coastal areas; embed Ocean priorities across climate, food systems, and sustainable finance; and scale up finance for SDG 14.

Highlighting the particular challenges facing developing countries and SIDS, Philémon Yang, President of the UN General Assembly, stressed the need for accessible financing for Ocean initiatives to achieve SDG 14.

Noting that over 2,000 voluntary commitments have been registered, Li Junhua, UN Under-Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs, and Secretary-General of UNOC3, urged delegates to make sure these commitments are translated to “real world solutions.”

Renaud Muselier, President of the Regional Council of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, stressed the responsibility of all to protect the Ocean as a common good for future generations and urged strengthening the role of local communities in Ocean conservation.

Christian Estrosi, Mayor of Nice, stressed that “everyone’s presence at UNOC3 gives hope to millions of people,” wishing that the Nice Ocean Action Plan, which comprises the political declaration and the voluntary commitments arising from UNOC3, becomes for the Ocean what the Paris Agreement is for climate. Estrosi drew attention to the One Ocean Science Congress, the BEFF, and the Ocean Rise and Coastal Resilience Summit, held prior to UNOC3, emphasizing that “we are ready to fight for our cities, coasts, islands, and the magnificent biodiversity that it is our duty to protect.”

Underscoring that “the water cycle and cycle of life are one,” President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Brazil, highlighted the Ocean’s significance, lamenting that “the threat of unilateralism is hanging over it.” Lula emphasized the need to ensure that the Ocean does not become the stage of geopolitical ambitions, and highlighted national efforts toward achieving Ocean-related targets set in multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs), including the submission of seven voluntary commitments on protection of marine areas, spatial planning, sustainable fishing, and science and education.

António Luís Santos da Costa, President of the European Council, urged for a cross-cutting approach based on science, environmental protection, and the blue economy, and emphasized that “only by acting multilaterally, we can address global issues and achieve a pact for the future through the SDGs.”

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, urged timely ratification of the BBNJ Agreement and highlighted the EU’s contribution of EUR 40 million toward implementation of the Global Ocean Programme, the European Digital Twin of the Ocean, and the European Ocean Pact, a comprehensive strategy to better protect the Ocean.

Organizational Matters

Delegates adopted the conference’s agenda, rules of procedure, and organization of work (A/CONF.230/2025/1, A/CONF.230/2025/2, and A/CONF.230/2025/3); elected as Vice-Presidents: Kenya, Mauritius, and Morocco for Africa; the Federated States of Micronesia, Philippines, and Singapore for Asia and the Pacific; Armenia, Croatia, and Poland for Central and Eastern Europe; Brazil and the Dominican Republic for Latin America and the Caribbean; and Germany and Monaco for the Western European and Others Group; and elected Omar Hilale (Morocco) as Rapporteur.

The conference also established a credentials committee and appointed the Co-Chairs of the ten Ocean Action Panels to be held throughout the week. On Friday, the conference adopted the report of the credentials committee (A/CONF.230/2025/15).

General Debate

The general debate took place in seven plenary sessions from Monday to Thursday. It provided the opportunity for Heads of State and Government, other high-level delegates, and representatives of international, regional, and non-governmental organizations to come together and discuss Ocean issues, focusing on national and regional efforts and priorities toward a healthy and sustainable Ocean.

Delegates addressed a variety of themes during the general debate, in particular:

• fisheries management, including the importance of Ocean resources for food security and economic development, and challenges emanating from overfishing and IUU fishing;
• marine spatial management, including the establishment of new marine protected areas (MPAs);
• developments in international Ocean governance, highlighting in particular the need for swift entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement; discussions under the International Seabed Authority (ISA) on deep-sea mining, with some calling for a moratorium or precautionary pause; and the importance of concluding negotiations on a plastics treaty and a science-policy panel on chemicals, pollution, and waste;
• the blue economy’s potential, with many representatives of developing countries, in particular SIDS, stressing the need for inclusive, fair, and equitable growth and development;
• the Ocean, climate, and biodiversity nexus, urging for holistic management of the Ocean and its resources;
• the need to tackle marine pollution, including from land-based sources;
• financial flows, underscoring that SDG 14 is among the most underfunded of all SDGs and emphasizing the need to close the financing gap for effective Ocean action;
• Ocean science and literacy, with many pointing to the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030); and
• cooperation, synergies, and partnerships, cautioning against working in silos.

The full set of statements can be found here: https://sdgs.un.org/conferences/ocean2025/programme

Ocean Action Panels

Panel 1: Conserving, sustainably managing, and restoring marine and coastal ecosystems, including deep-sea ecosystems: This panel took place on Monday, co-chaired by Marina Silva, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Brazil, and Stavros Papastavrou, Minister of Environment and Energy, Greece, and moderated by Kristian Teleki, CEO, Fauna and Flora International. Discussions centered around a concept note (A/CONF.230/2025/4).

Silva drew attention to policy developments in Brazil, including the integration of Ocean and coastal zones in national climate goals, and efforts to expand MPAs, also underscoring the importance of recognizing the role of women and youth in Ocean conservation.

Noting that Greece ratified the BBNJ Agreement on 9 June, Papastavrou identified as priorities the building of a resilient network of MPAs, ecosystem restoration, investments in nature-based solutions, and boosting Ocean literacy.

Inger Andersen, Executive Director, UN Environment Programme (UNEP), underscored that efforts to protect 30% of marine and coastal areas by 2030 must advance meaningful protection, and stressed the need for interconnectivity in addressing the totality of interlinked environmental challenges.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General, WTO, highlighted the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, prohibiting subsidies for IUU fishing, and urged unlocking harmful subsidies to support marine and coastal ecosystems and the people who depend upon them.

Razan Al Mubarak, President, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), stressed that “we are not facing a crisis of knowledge but a crisis of willingness and implementation,” noting that “we know enough to protect the Ocean, which is life itself.” Lamenting that “we have drained the life out of the Ocean,” Al Mubarak highlighted the need to: establish fully functional MPAs; unlock innovative financing; and promptly ratify the BBNJ Agreement, without which global commitments will be out of reach.

Peter De Menocal, President and Director, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, urged forging bold partnerships to accelerate progress toward SDG 14 in a way that leaves no one behind, and integrating Ocean considerations at the heart of climate negotiations. De Menocal emphasized that the Ocean offers “scalable and durable pathways for carbon removal,” and offered examples of integration of science, technology, policy, and communication in the Ocean Twilight Zone.

Marc Benioff, CEO, Salesforce, stressed the need for innovation and creativity for an era of “ecopreneurs,” noting that, in polarized times, we need to work with everyone, “even with those that do not agree with us on everything.” Benioff showcased the potential of new technologies for a healthy Ocean, cautioning that these technologies can also create additional challenges; and noted that “protecting the Ocean means protecting the future prosperity, sustainability, and equality for every human being.

President Moetai Brotherson, French Polynesia, stressed that SIDS, which simultaneously are big Ocean states have “huge shoulders and tiny feet,” being responsible for 7% of the total Ocean surface, while having at their disposal only 0.1% of world gross domestic product (GDP). He celebrated the establishment of the entire EEZ of French Polynesia as a class 6 MPA (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources) and the establishment of 1.1 million square kilometers as class 1 and 2 (strict nature reserve, wilderness area, national park).

Tiago Pitta e Cunha, CEO, Oceano Azul Foundation, called for bringing together different environmental processes to tackle interrelated challenges. He highlighted positive developments since UNOC2, including the BBNJ Agreement, the 30 by 30 Target, and initiatives on capacity development, stressing that “natural capital is the bedrock of our economies.”

In the ensuing discussion, delegates representing individual states and regional groups addressed, among other things:

• progress toward ratification of the BBNJ Agreement, including plans to ratify the Agreement during UNOC3;
• progress toward creation of MPAs and other measures to protect and restore marine and coastal ecosystems;
• the urgent need for adequate and accessible finance, capacity building, and technology transfer, particularly for SIDS and LDCs; and
• the need for Ocean conservation research and policy to be community-driven, and based in both science and traditional knowledge.

Non-governmental organizations underscored that the Ocean must be managed in true partnership with communities, in ways that are inclusive, equitable, and rooted in human rights.

Panel 2: Increasing Ocean-related scientific cooperation, knowledge, capacity building, marine technology, and education to strengthen the science-policy interface for Ocean health: This panel convened Monday afternoon, co-chaired by Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Panama, and José Manuel Fernandes, Minister of Agriculture and the Sea, Portugal. Moderated by David Obura, Chair, Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), this panel was based on a concept note (A/CONF.230/2025/5).

Vásquez emphasized the importance of international cooperation and education, drawing attention, among other things, to the regional marine conservation mechanism Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor (CMAR) and education initiatives targeting vulnerable coastal communities.

Fernandes underlined priorities for accelerating multilateral action, including: recognizing Ocean observation and data systems as global public goods; investing in capacity building and marine technology, especially for SIDS and LDCs; and strengthening the science-policy-society interface.

Obura highlighted the relevance of recent IPBES assessments (Nexus Assessment and Transformative Change Assessment) for Ocean, marine, and coastal spaces, and drew attention to the recommendations of the One Ocean Science Congress, held 3-6 June 2025 in Nice, France.

Vidar Helgesen, Executive Secretary, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (IOC/UNESCO), stressed the need for more knowledge addressing the complex and cumulative impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution on the Ocean, adaptive to changing Ocean conditions. Helgesen further called for fostering Ocean literacy and improving the communication of scientific knowledge to decision makers, including those in the business, industry, and finance sectors.

Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General, World Meteorological Organization (WMO), drew attention to the role of the WMO in global Ocean observation, climate monitoring, and early warning systems for storm surges and tropical cyclones, among other things, as well as to the “10 000 Ships for the Ocean” Initiative launched at UNOC3, a partnership with the commercial shipping industry to scale-up global Ocean observations.

Li Jiabiao, Chinese Academy of Engineering, stressed the need to “break through cognitive boundaries and explore innovative solutions, including by innovating our scientific means.” Li called for transregional cooperation for collaborative Ocean governance and for bridging the science-policy divide with digital tools and institutionalized arrangements based on the practice of global scientific cooperation and the establishment of regional centers to achieve data standardization and sharing.

Noting the Ocean is linked to all SDGs rather than merely SDG 14, Pierre Bahurel, CEO, Mercator Ocean International, highlighted technological solutions including satellite data, artificial intelligence, and digital twins, and emphasized that sustainable Ocean solutions require observation, data, information, and knowledge accessible to all and tailored to users.

Vincent Pieribone, Co-CEO, OceanX, highlighted the importance of cooperation, capacity building, access to technology, and Ocean education, emphasizing the need for systems that ensure everyone can generate, use, and benefit from Ocean knowledge through shared platforms and storytelling.

Stuart Minchin, Director General, Pacific Community, stressed the importance of community-based participatory research, respect for Indigenous and intellectual property rights, and emphasized the need for culturally-grounded Ocean knowledge to be transmitted to future generations.

Lamenting decision-making taken in “ignorance or contradiction” of science and Indigenous and local knowledges, Pradeep Singh, Oceano Azul Foundation, underlined the importance of independent marine scientific research and transparent and accountable decision-making.

In the ensuing discussion, delegates representing individual states and regional groups addressed, among other things:

• the importance of Indigenous and local knowledges and the need for research to be designed, led, and produced by, among others, Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLCs), women, youth, and fishers, reflecting their needs and the realities of different territories and communities;
• the need to invest in Ocean research as knowledge production and effective implementation go hand in hand, highlighting the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030);
• mobilizing resources and capacity building based on actual needs, particularly for SIDS and LDCs;
• improving Ocean literacy across all levels of society to foster local ecological knowledge and Ocean stewardship, including through blue schools and citizen science;
• the importance of regional and international knowledge exchange and cooperation based on solidarity, including channels for robust international financing and technology transfer; and
• the role of new technologies in Ocean observation and data collection.

Intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, among others:

• drew attention to the multi-stakeholder process informing the Regular Process for Global Reporting and Assessment of the State of the Marine Environment, including Socio-economic Aspects, particularly the fourth cycle of the World Ocean Assessment (2026-2030);
• called for science to be designed, led, and implemented by and for IPLCs, women, and youth, respecting their diverse priorities, and lamented the gap between research priorities and local and regional needs;
• urged the mobilization of resources for, and equitable access to, science, technology, and data; and
• called for strengthening regional ownership of and collaborative partnerships in technological and marine education, emphasizing also the intergenerational transmission of knowledge.

Panel 3: Mobilizing finance for Ocean actions in support of SDG 14: Co-chaired by Jóhann Páll Jóhannsson, Minister of the Environment, Energy and Climate, Iceland, and Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Jamaica, and moderated by Karen Sack, Executive Director, Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance, this panel was held on Tuesday morning. Discussions proceeded on the basis of a concept note (A/CONF.230/2025/6).

Smith stressed the critical importance of closing the finance gap to achieve SDG 14, noting that Ocean health and wealth are intrinsically interlinked with environmental sustainability, climate resilience, and cultural wellbeing and identity. Urging the importance of sharing best practices, data, knowledge, and expertise to identify challenges and opportunities in deploying innovative and scalable market-based solutions to support a transition to sustainable Ocean economy, Smith identified, among other things, blue bonds, debt for nature swaps, blue carbon, and parametric insurance.

“Investing in a healthy marine environment is not a niche activity, but a force multiplier and should be a priority,” expressed Jóhannsson. Underscoring the significance of SDG 14 for achieving climate goals, ensuring food security, and supporting sustainable economic growth, Jóhannsson highlighted the need to redirect finance from harmful subsidies, reflect the diversity of Ocean economies in funding priorities, and ensure that no one is left behind.

“The Ocean is living capital. When we invest in its health, we invest in our own,” underlined Sack. Noting that the BEFF held in Monaco ahead of UNOC3 saw EUR 8.7 billion committed to be deployed over the next five years, of which EUR 1 billion has already been deployed or is investment ready in 2025, Sack stressed that the tools and evidence are available, noting that what remains is the will to act underpinned by clear policy.

Ulrike Decoene, Head of Communication, Brand and Sustainability, AXA Group, emphasized that “without an insurable Ocean we cannot have an investable Ocean,” and highlighted potential contributions of the insurance sector, including data generation, parametric insurance products, participation in debt for nature swaps, and incentivization of sustainable Ocean practices.

Mafalda Duarte, Executive Director, Green Climate Fund (GCF) highlighted the mega-services the Ocean provides, including functioning as a climate regulator, and stressed the need to raise the level of ambition to finance all SDGs, in particular SDG 14. Duarte underscored challenges, including fragmentation of the investment environment, risk aversion, long timelines, and fragmented jurisdictions; highlighted GCF initiatives; and stressed the importance of the International Conference on Financing for Development.

Pradeep Kurukulasuriya, Executive Secretary, UN Capital Development Fund, underscored the need for bold models to unlock private capital. Kurukulasuriya highlighted the One Ocean Finance Facility, which aims to unlock billions in new financing from Ocean-dependent industries and blue economy sectors, stressing the need for a global platform to mobilize innovative and new capital for priority actions for the Ocean, targeting non-official development assistance (ODA) resources.

Dona Bertarelli, Co-Chair, Bertarelli Foundation, lamented that “life that took millions of years to evolve is vanishing in a glimpse of an eye,” emphasizing that Ocean protection “is not charity or optional, but the smartest and most cost-effective investment we can make for climate, food, security, health, and our future and that of our children.” Bertarelli stressed that the real risks lie in inaction and noted that no single organization, sector, or country can tackle the challenges alone.

Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), drew attention to a 2025 OECD Recommendation on Eliminating Government Support for IUU Fishing, as well as the 2025 Guidance on Promoting Sustainable Ocean Economies, as contributions to a sound policy environment for a sustainable Ocean economy.

Jorge Moreira da Silva, Executive Director, UN Office for Project Services, urged attention not only to finance and policy, but also to questions of implementation and capacity gaps, highlighting as examples: insufficient infrastructures that lock in unsustainable practices for decades as well as new infrastructures needed to support Ocean health; the need for long-term planning taking into account national financing needs; and creating enabling environments to attract finance.

Pieternel Boogaard, Managing Director, Office of Technical Delivery, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) drew attention 130 IFAD-funded projects related to the blue economy, including provision of agricultural and climate risk insurance for smallholders and small-scale fishers, based on a mutual risk-sharing mechanism in partnership with private insurance companies.

In the ensuing discussion, delegates representing individual states and regional groups focused on, among other things:

• the need to increase funding flows toward the implementation of SDG 14 for developing countries, strengthening the capacities of the Global South to submit bankable projects and recognizing, in particular, the special circumstances, needs, and vulnerabilities of SIDS and LDCs;
• the fragmented funding landscape and disparities in accessing finance, support, technology, and data, calling for rationalization and consolidation of the international financial architecture and urging for respecting past commitments;
• the need for a dedicated global Ocean financing facility or blue economy fund, with some identifying the One Ocean Finance Facility;
• the need to prioritize Ocean-related projects with simplified approval processes, carefully designed eligibility criteria, and modalities for direct access removing administrative and procedural barriers;
• capturing the true value of the ecosystem services the Ocean offers and the need to bring all actors on deck; and
• innovative financial mechanisms, including debt for nature swaps, blue bonds, payments for ecosystem services, using public funds to derisk private investments, and ways to increase concessional financing.

International and non-governmental organizations highlighted, among other things:

• the many ecosystem services the Ocean offers, including coastal protection, climate regulation, food security and nutrition, and ecosystem stabilization, are not properly valued in our economic system;
• ODA is not sufficient to achieve global development and biodiversity goals, and the need to leverage private resources;
• the need to repurpose environmentally harmful incentives towards financial flows that support the resilience of marine ecosystems and the communities and livelihoods dependent upon them;
• marine biodiversity loss should be accounted for in loss and damage; and
• financial initiatives and programmes supporting the achievement of SDG 14 have been launched, including the “30x30 Ocean Accelerator” of the Wildlife Conservation Society, and the Blue Carbon Accelerator Fund to support restoration and conservation projects in developing countries.

Panel 4: Preventing and significantly reducing marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities: Convening on Tuesday afternoon, this panel was co-chaired by Messouda Mint Baham Ould Mohamed Laghdaf, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Mauritania, and Carsten Schneider, Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Climate Protection and Nuclear Safety, Germany. Moderated by Charles Goddard, Editorial Director, The Economist Group, discussions proceeded on the basis of a concept paper (A/CONF.230/2025/7).

In opening remarks, Schneider stressed that, despite efforts, the pollution crisis continues, underscoring the need to reach agreement on an ambitious, binding plastics treaty, covering the entire life cycle of plastic products, and including a review mechanism and support avenues, in particular for the Global South. Schneider further highlighted action programmes for the recovery and clearance of legacy munitions.

Mint Baham drew attention to national efforts in Mauritania, including prohibition of production and sale of non-biodegradable plastic bags, accompanied by awareness-raising and monitoring measures, and highlighted the upcoming negotiations on a plastics treaty and the establishment of a global science-policy panel to contribute further to the sound management of chemicals and waste and to prevent pollution.

Goddard highlighted the links between SDG 14 and SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), stressing the importance of considering the entire hydrological cycle when addressing pollutants in the Ocean,  and emphasized the need for an ambitious plastics treaty.

Inger Andersen, Executive Director, UNEP, stressed that the “linear economy does not work,” urging a move toward a circular economy and highlighting progress made to address marine pollution, including through the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, and the 17 Regional Seas Conventions. While noting that divergences exist in ongoing negotiations for a plastics treaty, Andersen stressed that progress has been made, with “countries working hard to get to the finish line.”

Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, European Commission, highlighted, among other things, the European Ocean Pact and the High Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean. Roswall emphasized the need to: fight pollution at source; address plastic pollution through boosting circularity, advancing new bio-based materials, and promoting innovation and new technologies; and work together building coalitions and transboundary water cooperation.

Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director-General, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), detailed their development of technologies and nuclear techniques and applications to trace the impacts of Ocean acidification upon calcifying organisms and phytoplankton growth, through radioactive tracers such as calcium-45, and their NUTEC Plastics Initiative, which uses isotopic techniques to monitor plastic pollution.

Janis Searles Jones, CEO, Ocean Conservancy, highlighted as priorities eliminating or replacing single-use plastics and removing lost and abandoned fishing gear, noting that single-use plastics are “unnecessary, harmful, and ubiquitous,” and yet plastic packaging constitutes nearly 40% of annual plastic production globally, while fishing gear are the “deadliest form of marine debris.”

Wendy Watson-Wright, Chair, Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection, emphasized, among other things, the need for further education and awareness projects, highlighting the World Ocean Explorer online platform as an example, and making Ocean protection the norm not the exception, reversing the burden of proof so that it is “incumbent on extractive and other industries to demonstrate the harmlessness of projects and actions before they begin.”

Alexander Turra, Convener of Oceans 20, opined that the capacities of states to address the underlying causes of marine pollution have deteriorated since UNOC2, and urged improving capacities and means of implementation to enable states to assess the environmental impacts of economic and development activities, and take preventive measures.

Romain Troublé, Managing Director, Tara Ocean Foundation, stressed that Ocean protection “must be the standard and not the exception,” and urged a drastic reduction in plastic production around the world, noting that scientists have called for a minimum of 75% reduction to that end.

During discussions, delegates highlighted, among other things:

• the need for a collective approach and transboundary cooperation, stressing that pollution knows no borders;
• national and regional efforts concerning waste management and pollution control, stressing the direct threats to the environment, food security and safety, and livelihoods;
• the importance of reaching consensus on a binding plastics treaty addressing the entire life cycle of plastics, emphasizing that it will constitute “a win for multilateralism, the environment, and human health,” and urging inclusion of provisions addressing extended producer responsibility, leakages into the environment, and recycling and waste management infrastructures;
• the need to address the water-climate nexus, with some highlighting the Baku Dialogue on Water for Climate Action;
• the urgency of recognizing armed conflict as a source of systemic marine pollution, and strengthening legal tools to hold states accountable for pollution resulting therefrom; and
• the need for greater international cooperation, technology transfer, capacity building, shared monitoring systems, and predictable financing to support developing countries, in particular SIDS, in operationalizing a circular economy and tackling marine pollution.

International and non-governmental organizations underscored, among other things:

• regional efforts enabling cooperation across sectors, institutions, and borders; and
• that the future plastics treaty must contain provisions tackling upstream measures, including sustainability criteria for the production and use of plastics, and chemicals of concern.

Panel 5: Fostering sustainable fisheries management, including supporting small-scale fishers: This panel, held on Wednesday morning, was co-chaired by Bùi Thanh Son, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Viet Nam, and Marija Vučković, Minister for Environmental Protection and Green Transition, Croatia, and moderated by Alfredo Giron, Head of Ocean Action Agenda, World Economic Forum. Discussions focused on sustainable fisheries management, including supporting small-scale fishers, on the basis of a concept paper (A/CONF.230/2025/8).

In opening remarks, Son stressed the importance of sustainable fisheries management for achieving many SDGs and called for flexible and adaptive solutions, including marine ecosystem planning and conservation, as well as inclusive governance, community empowerment, and sustained investment, underscoring the importance of international cooperation.

Vučković emphasized that the sustainability of fisheries “is not a static target but an evolving commitment,” noting that management plans must be rooted in science and driven by the precautionary approach. Vučković called for effective monitoring, control, and enforcement systems, including for tackling IUU fishing; and underscored the need to ensure all actors operate under the same commitments and responsibilities, creating a level-playing field and driving long-term sustainability of fisheries across the globe.

Giron highlighted overfishing, IUU fishing, and lack of data as significant challenges, and emphasized that only ten ratifications are needed for the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies to enter into force.

Qu Dongyu, Director-General, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), highlighted key instruments shaping the global governance framework for the conservation and sustainable development of aquatic food systems, including the UN Fish Stocks Agreement, the Agreement on Port States Measures, and the 2014 Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication. Drawing attention to the FAO’s 2025 Review of the State of the World Fishery Resources launched during UNOC3, containing reports on the biological sustainability of 2,570 individual fish stocks, Qu urged additional focus on aquatic resources, ensuring their viability, accessibility, and affordability without compromising biodiversity and ecosystem health.

Pio Manoa, Deputy Director General, Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency, highlighted the Honiara Summit, which took place in the Solomon Islands in February 2025. Manoa emphasized the role of regional fisheries bodies in supporting implementation of SDG 14.4 (sustainable fishing); and called for international support and stronger commitments to support governance initiatives in the Pacific.

Costas Kadis, EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, highlighted, among other things, the EU Common Fisheries Policy, including approaches such as maximum sustainable yields for fish stocks and application of the precautionary principle to prevent overfishing. Kadis noted that the upcoming evaluation of the policy will emphasize the needs of small-scale fishers and the fair allocation of opportunities for all fisheries, large and small, highlighting also the European Ocean Pact.

“Supporting small scale fishers should not be an afterthought but the primary objective of our conversations to foster sustainable fisheries management,” stressed Editrudith Lukanga, Founding Secretary General, African Women Fish Processors and Traders Network, and Executive Director, Environmental Management and Economic Development Organization. Lukanga urged, among other things, implementation of existing guidelines with fully backed resources and measurable action plans; action to be grounded in social justice, equity, and rights-based approaches, including protection of tenure rights; and ensuring blue economy plans are addressed through a “blue justice” lens that ensures communities are not displaced, protects workers, and supports the autonomy and leadership of small-scale fishers and their organizations.

Highlighting the need to reimagine the relationship with Ocean aquatic systems and blue foods, Ussif Rashid Sumaila, Ocean and Fisheries Economics Department, University of British Columbia, urged: viewing aquatic systems in terms of nutrition and food provision rather than profit maximization; practicing a justice-based approach; uplifting the voices of women, youth, and small-scale fishers; and combining conventional science with Indigenous, traditional, and coastal science and knowledges. Sumaila further stressed that deep-sea mining should not be allowed to proceed, emphasizing that “we must abandon the idea that people have the right to take everything, everywhere, all at once.”

Darius Campbell, Co-Chair, Regional Fisheries Body Secretariats Network, UK, drew attention to progress in areas including monitoring, control, and surveillance; IUU fishing; and area-based management tools.

In the ensuing discussion, delegates representing individual states and regional groups, including Heads of State, emphasized, among other things:

• fisheries, in particular for SIDS, are not just an economic sector but the foundation of food security, livelihoods, culture, and identity;
• the need to mobilize global and regional cooperation and international finance, and ensure technology transfer and data sharing, in particular for SIDS, to combat IUU fishing, support institutional strengthening, strengthen monitoring and compliance, and offer capacity building for coastal and small-scale fisheries;
• small-scale fishers, IPLCs, women, and youth must be included and empowered as stewards in policy efforts and decision-making processes to foster sustainable fisheries management;
• national efforts toward sustainable and responsible management of fisheries, and toward ensuring the livelihoods and food needs of local communities;
• regional action plans for small-scale fisheries in different parts of the world, including strategies to strengthen co-management and community-based fisheries;
• the importance of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, calling for its ratification; and
• the OECD Recommendation on Eliminating Government Support for IUU Fishing.

Intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations highlighted, among other things:

• the importance of science-based decision making and adaptive management of fisheries, including through cooperation in and among regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs);
• global fish stocks are changing rapidly, and fish stocks assessments are increasingly uncertain, with more work needed to better understand the changes;
• the 2014 FAO Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries; and
• preferential access to and co-management of coastal zones by small-scale fishers and local communities, upholding their dignity, self-determination, and equity.

Panel 6: Advancing sustainable Ocean-based economies, sustainable maritime transport and coastal community resilience leaving no one behind: This panel took place on Wednesday afternoon and was co-chaired by Surangel S. Whipps Jr., President of Palau, and Annette Gibbons, Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada, and moderated by Minna Epps, Director, Ocean Team, IUCN. Discussions centered around a concept paper (A/CONF.230/2025/9).

In introductory remarks, Whipps highlighted sustainable aquaculture, ecotourism, and green shipping corridors, emphasizing the need to seize the opportunity and translate it into “hope and prosperity for every fishing village, every island and coastal community.” Whipps underscored that while transformation is already taking place, “real transformation requires Ocean equity to unlock the full potential of a sustainable Ocean economy,” stressing that “the custodians of the Ocean cannot be left behind.”

Gibbons stressed that, for too long, “short-term economic gains were prioritized over marine health,” threatening the integrity of the marine environment and undermining economic opportunities, leading to an untenable trajectory. Gibbons highlighted the Great Bear Sea Project Finance for Permanence, the High Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean, and the 100% Alliance for Sustainable Ocean Management, and urged: harmonizing environmental stewardship with economic development, supporting IPLCs, and building upon existing practices and investments.

Epps stressed the need for eco-anchored governance and investment, and urged co-designing a facility to move beyond fragmented models and enhance coordination. Epps emphasized that “capital alone is not transformative,” noting the need to direct financial flows to those that most need it, including local communities, women, and youth, and underscoring the need to address structural inequalities and vulnerabilities to ensure that no one is left behind.

Li Junhua, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, said “economic progress is only lasting if it is socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable,” noting that a sustainable Ocean-based economy will not only contribute toward achieving SDG 14 but also toward poverty eradication, zero hunger, decent work, and industry and innovation. Stressing the need for increased ambition, Li urged investment in fisheries, aquaculture, ecotourism, sustainable shipping, and renewable Ocean-based energy, highlighting the need for innovative finance and technology tools, and youth involvement.

Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General, IMO, drew attention to IMO actions for the protection of the marine environment, including 2023 Strategy on Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ships, the banning of illegal disposal of plastics and fishing gear in the Ocean, work toward an IMO plastics strategy, the 2023 Biofouling Guidelines, and the revised guidelines for the reduction of underwater radiated noise from shipping.

“We cannot leave anyone behind, but sometimes we need to bring people along as well, empowering them with the tools and resources to act,” stated LaToya Cantrell, Mayor of New Orleans, US. Stressing the importance of supporting residents on the ground, Cantrell urged investing in coastal economies, funding local leadership, and upskilling people through training and provision of green jobs.

Noting that legal systems and trade frameworks must adapt to the reality that the Ocean and planet has limits, Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General, UN Trade and Development, emphasized that the way in which progress is measured must change, going beyond GDP, as addressed in the Pact for the Future. Grynspan underlined among action priorities: the improvement of data and governance, including emissions tracking in all Ocean sectors; fostering climate resilient maritime transport; facilitating sustainable trade; and the proposed creation of a UN Task Force on seaweed.

Andrew Forrest, Co-founder, Minderoo Foundation, underlined that bottom trawling and other destructive practices should not be permitted in marine parks, urging delegates to leave 30% of their EEZ untouched while implementing responsible fishing in the remaining 70%.

Russell Reichelt, Sherpa to the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, Australia, detailed ongoing efforts toward a sustainable Ocean plan, highlighting among other things that a sustainable Ocean demands efforts to “prosper equitably, produce sustainably, and protect and restore effectively,” and urging a whole-system approach to sustainably manage all areas of the Ocean.

Connecting the dots between the panelists’ interventions, Francine Pickup, Deputy Assistant Administrator, UN Development Programme, stressed that the notion of a sustainable Ocean-based economy deals with building and sustaining Ocean communities and livelihoods, leveraging the health of Ocean ecosystems, and aligning Ocean use with responsible Ocean stewardship as a duty to future generations.

In the ensuing discussion, delegates underscored, among others:

• the need for equity, community empowerment, decent work, and social inclusion to foster sustainable Ocean-based economies, including women, youth, and IPLCs for a just transition, with some highlighting the International Labor Organization Work in Fishing Convention;
• progress toward decarbonization and greening of maritime transport, highlighting developments in technology and energy as well as the 2023 IMO Strategy on Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ships, with some urging that such efforts must not further burden developing countries and their economies; and
• the need for finance to be regenerative rather than deepening inequities, addressing the special circumstances and unique vulnerabilities of SIDS, reforming access to finance, investing in capacity building, ensuring access to technology, and shifting toward a people-centered approach based on value creation, inclusivity, and sustainability;
• the need for global solidarity and support toward the Global South for long-term investments toward mangrove restoration, wetlands, coral reefs, early warning systems, and climate adaptation, empowering social protection;
• the need to address the blue economy not only as a strategy but as a responsibility, demanding balanced economic growth that does not compromise the health of the Ocean; and
• cooperation and fair global rules for inclusive Ocean governance, connecting science with finance, and aligning climate goals with trade policies.

Intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations highlighted:

• regional efforts to scale up locally-led marine conservation and enable coordinated action and knowledge sharing to strengthen coastal resilience and promote blue economic activities that ensure no one is left behind; and
• the “Business in Ocean” call to action signed by 80 companies at the BEFF held in Monaco ahead of UNOC3.

Panel 7: Leveraging Ocean, climate, and biodiversity interlinkages: Held on Thursday morning, this panel was co-chaired by Jean-Luc Crucke, Minister of Mobility, Climate and Ecological Transition, in charge of Sustainable Development, Belgium, and Arif Havas Oegroseno, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Indonesia, and moderated by Susan Gardner, Director, Ecosystems Division, UNEP. Centered on a concept paper (A/CONF.230/2025/10), discussions portrayed the Ocean’s central role in the climate system and relevant challenges.

In opening remarks, Crucke highlighted targets set by the global community in different legally binding instruments, including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and the BBNJ Agreement, and stressed the need for policy coherence and ambitious responses. Crucke drew attention to the Blue Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) Challenge, which aims to integrate Ocean-based solutions in NDCs; and underscored the need to develop indicators for the targets of the global goals on adaptation, highlighting the Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue 2025 under the auspices of the UNFCCC.

Oegroseno stressed that due to the interlinkages between the Ocean, climate, and biodiversity, “addressing one means addressing all.” Oegroseno highlighted the Ocean Impact Summit, to be hosted by Indonesia in June 2026, and urged developing innovative technological solutions and financial models, drawing attention to the launch of the Coral Bond Initiative.

Gardner underscored that the nexus elements provide a powerful opportunity to draw multiple co-benefits that are often overlooked, and called for enabling coastal communities to realize their potential as leaders, leading to real change for people and nature.

Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary, CBD, noted while the interlinkages between the Ocean, climate, and biodiversity are “clear for all to see,” they are simultaneously “complex, dynamic, and variable.” Schomaker highlighted the dedicated GBF Target on climate change and Ocean acidification (Target 8) and related targets on ecosystem functions and services (Target 11), and resource mobilization (Target 19). Underscoring the need for enabling stronger interlinkages in national-level planning and implementation, and for whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches, Schomaker further drew attention to CBD decisions taken at the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) on marine and coastal biodiversity, and on the conservation and sustainable use of marine, coastal, and island biodiversity, as well as the establishment of a subsidiary body for IPLCs for inclusive policy making. Schomaker cautioned that only through raising the level of ambition in national targets can global targets be achieved.

Chung Keeyong, Ambassador for Climate Change, Republic of Korea, stressed that “protecting biodiversity is not an accessory to climate action but its foundation”; drew attention to the Our Ocean Conference held in Busan, Republic of Korea, and the Korea Blue Action Plan; and highlighted their offer to co-host, with Chile, the fourth UN Ocean Conference in 2028.

Stressing the integrated solutions that the interlinked climate, Ocean, and biodiversity crises demand will not come from pledges, commitments, and individual projects, but from those who live within ecosystems, Ashleigh McGovern, Senior Vice President, Center for Oceans, Conservation International, highlighted their development of a seascapes approach to bring together local communities, Indigenous leaders, governments, and the private sector. McGovern called for centering human rights, equity, and dignity through community-based initiatives that ensure communities have access to opportunities, resources, and decision-making power.

Drawing upon the recommendations resulting from the One Ocean Science Congress held before UNOC3, Jean-Pierre Gattuso, Research Professor, Villefranche Oceanography Laboratory, called for governance actions grounded in nature-based solutions, integrated management of ecosystems, and transdisciplinary research. Gattuso further urged advancing policy coherence by strengthening synergies across Ocean, climate, and biodiversity processes, implementing precautionary approaches, enhancing monitoring and knowledge sharing, and empowering IPLCs in decision-making grounded in equity and rights-based approaches.

Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, called for deliberate joined-up thinking to integrate disaster risk reduction approaches in climate, biodiversity, and Ocean policies and actions to strengthen the resilience of coastal communities, and avoid taking actions in one area that exacerbate vulnerabilities to hazards and create new problems.

Elizabeth McLeod, Global Oceans Director, The Nature Conservancy, urged solutions that regenerate ecosystems and habitats, stressed that communities are leading on the frontlines of climate and Ocean action and must be empowered with the resources to act, and emphasized a need to address the debt crisis facing developing countries in conversations about finance.

In the ensuing discussion, delegates representing individual states and regional groups emphasized, among other things:

• ambitious climate, biodiversity, and Ocean actions are complementary rather than competing priorities, cautioning against working in silos and emphasizing the need for policy and institutional coherence, highlighting among others the Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue of the UNFCCC;
• the co-benefits of redesigning shipping vessels in a holistic manner, by addressing underwater noise from ships, energy efficiency, and biofouling jointly, as well as a proposal for the IMO to prepare mandatory requirements for biofouling;
• the potential of Ocean diplomacy to build bridges for a holistic approach to solve the triple planetary crisis;
• national efforts to integrate Ocean and coastal conservation measures and solutions into national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs) and NDCs, and opportunities arising from the overlap in their submission cycles, with some highlighting the  launch of a “Blue NDC Challenge” to incentivize such efforts;
• actions to address the nexus elements do not merely focus on conservation but constitute strategic investments in climate resilience and food security;
• the need to address fragmented financial flows, including by tapping into innovative mechanisms as well as simplifying financing modalities for developing countries, in particular SIDS, to ensure accessibility of finance; and
• the need to respect Indigenous, traditional, and local knowledge systems, linking them with modern science.

Representatives of international and non-governmental organizations, stressed, among others:

• the need to build global models of international collaboration to understand Ocean change and facilitate data sharing on the Ocean and its biodiversity;
• the importance of building capacities related to Ocean science for inclusive and informed decision making;
• the role of youth as innovators;
• the need to protect and restore blue carbon ecosystems as nature-based solutions for climate adaptation and coastal management; and
• the need to ensure the meaningful participation of Indigenous Peoples in decision-making, including in the preparation and implementation of NDCs and NBSAPs, while guaranteeing Indigenous tenure and rights to resources, culture, and knowledge.

Panel 8: Promoting and supporting all forms of cooperation, especially at the regional and subregional level: Held on Thursday afternoon, this panel was co-chaired by Leila Benali, Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Morocco, and Claudio Barbaro, Undersecretary of State to the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security, Italy, and moderated by Cynthia Barzuna, Global Deputy Director, Ocean Program, World Resources Institute. Discussions drew upon a concept paper (A/CONF.230/2025/11).

Benali emphasized that, while “global frameworks and regional actions chart a course forward, progress remains dangerously slow.” Benali emphasized that regional cooperation is the bedrock of Ocean governance, enabling system-based action, stressing that “our shared Ocean demands shared solutions.” Highlighting the Royal Atlantic Initiative and the Tangiers Declaration emanating from the African Union Policy Conference on promoting peace, security, and development nexus in Africa, Benali called to “democratize knowledge, shattering barriers between data, science, and action;” and foster scalable solutions and partnerships that convert vulnerability to strength stirred by science and solidarity.

Barbaro highlighted the key role of Regional Seas Conventions in facilitating the implementation of global goals at the national level. In that respect, Barbaro highlighted the Barcelona Convention, in particular its Information and Communication Centre, and the G7’s Climate, Energy and Environment Ministers’ Meeting Communiqué.

Barzuna stressed that regional and subregional cooperation is indispensable for building trust and implementing integrated science-based solutions. Barzuna underscored that strengthening national actions, and scaling up regional and multilateral cooperation rooted in science, inclusive governance, and catalytic finance is of paramount importance for achieving global Ocean-related goals.

Wesley W. Simina, President of the Federated States of Micronesia, focused on the five tuna commissions serving as platforms for regional cooperation and management of tuna fisheries, which, beyond economic interests, are symbols of collective heritage and multilateral cooperation. Simina emphasized that such a comprehensive approach allows SIDS and developed countries to come together and negotiate conservation measures, harmonize monitoring protocols, and share vital data. Simina further highlighted: the need for effective monitoring, control, and surveillance; and that climate change is reshaping tuna distributions rendering fixed static quotas and boundaries insufficient.

“For SIDS, regional cooperation is not just a matter of logistics. It is a tradition and lifeline,” and “an imperative for survival and sustainable progress,” stressed Rabab Fatima, High Representative for the LDCs, Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and SIDS. Highlighting the role of regional and subregional cooperation in policy coordination, sharing and co-management of resources, and bolstering effective advocacy internationally, Fatima urged: scaling up finance and technical support to such mechanisms, prioritizing capacity building, institutional strengthening, knowledge sharing; and integrating regional priorities and strategies in global frameworks and financing mechanisms.

“Regional and subregional cooperation serves as a bridge between high level ambition and real world action,” stressed Enrique Ochoa Martínez, Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights, Mexico, enabling countries that share ecosystems, coastlines, and cultural ties to coordinate their efforts to ensure long-term Ocean sustainability. Martínez called for improving on existing cooperation efforts by aligning multilateral agreements and regional frameworks to reduce duplication, and fast-tracking the digital transition to fully harness the potential of technology.

Emphasizing that “our Pacific regionalism has deep historical roots predating modern institutions,” Filimon Manoni, Pacific Ocean Commissioner, Pacific Islands Forum, stressed that the current regional Ocean governance architecture consists of programmes, conventions, and other entities addressing regional seas, fisheries, the marine environment, and Ocean science and data. Manoni emphasized the role of high-level representation and advocacy, including through the Pacific Ocean Alliance, to bring together multi-stakeholder partnerships and networks to amplify the voices of and resolve challenges facing the Pacific region, thus fostering policy cohesion and implementation.

Tatjana Hema, Barcelona Convention, highlighted the role of the Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans in coordinating action and collaboration on technical matters, addressing common needs and cross-cutting challenges through integrated solutions and holistic approaches, and noted that the 24th Meeeting of the Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans was held in Nice, France, during UNOC3. Hema stressed that the Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans enable cooperation and collaboration within and between regions, supporting members to implement MEAs and global strategies, as well as enabling the sharing of best practices and lessons learned between regions.

Funmi Balogun, Resident Coordinator, Timor Leste, called for strengthening regional cooperation bodies to enable collaboration in and between regions and South-South cooperation of various forms, highlighting the Coral Triangle Initiative; urged new cooperation initiatives to connect local mayors and politicians in coastal towns across regions; and stressed the importance of enabling women and young people to come together to share experiences, local knowledges, practices, and policies.

During discussions, delegates representing individual states and regional groups underscored, among other things:

• the efforts and success stories of regional and subregional conventions, bodies, and initiatives, including regional seas bodies and RFMOs across the globe, and the need to ensure their long-term financial stability;
• the importance of data sharing, strengthening and harmonizing policy frameworks, capacity building, and technology transfer to bridge capacity gaps and strengthen technical capacities, in particular for developing countries and SIDS;
• the need to foster solidarity, including by promoting responsible investment and facilitating access to climate finance;
• the need to evaluate the quality of conservation measures, including spatial management tools, in addition to their quantity;
• the importance of strong regional seas mechanisms and RFMOs for durable multilateral cooperation and implementation of global agreements and goals, allowing for regionally-tailored approaches and solutions;
• establishing new regional and subregional cooperation mechanisms where gaps exist, including pollution control; and
• the participation of IPLCs, women, and youth in designing and implementing regional initiatives.

Representatives of international, regional, and non-governmental organizations focused on:

• further developing existing, and developing new, partnerships to conserve marine biodiversity and mitigate climate change, enabling the co-creation and co-designing of national policies;
• data and knowledge sharing to improve assessments’ quality and enhance community resilience;
• regional cooperation as a means to pool resources to achieve SDG 14, and attract blue finance, catalyzing private sector innovation; and
• designing cooperation to “scale out not up,” strengthening local rather than central solutions, and ensuring regional ownership of Ocean governance is not displaced.

Panel 9: Promoting the role of sustainable food from the Ocean for poverty eradication and food security: Held on Friday morning, this panel was co-chaired by Philip Isdor Mpango, Vice President of Tanzania, and Kim Sungbum, Deputy Minister for Marine Policy, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Republic of Korea, and moderated by Jim Leape, Stanford University, US. Delegates used a concept paper (A/CONF.230/2025/12) as a reference point for their discussions.

In introductory remarks, Vice President Mpango highlighted sustainable food from the Ocean as a source of nutrition, livelihoods, and economic opportunity, in particular for developing countries and coastal communities. Mpango urged strong international cooperation and broad partnerships that enhance the science-policy interface, promote fair and inclusive access to Ocean resources, and boost financial flows and technology sharing to “bridge the gap between potential and practice.”

Kim noted that aquatic food supply must increase by over 22% to meet projected demand in the coming years, stressing that inefficiencies and structural vulnerabilities necessitate redesigning resource management and value chains around the principle of sustainability. Calling for meaningful international and regional cooperation, Kim called for sustainable fisheries management, value chain transparency, aquaculture development, reduction of post-harvest loss and food waste, and strengthening social protections.

Leape emphasized that “blue foods are incredibly diverse,” offering an opportunity to increase resilience in the era of climate change. Leape highlighted fish as a source of micronutrients, adding that they often have a lighter footprint than food produced on land, and emphasized that small-scale producers lie at the heart of the system and require empowerment and support.

Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilsted, Director, Nutrition, Health and Food Security Impact Area Platform, CGIAR, highlighted innovative technologies and approaches, including monitoring systems, selective breeding, climate smart technologies, and regenerative and integrated aquaculture systems, drawing attention to, among other things, the impactful growth of seaweed and algae production. Thilsted called for bringing innovation to scale through purposeful investment, cooperation, and capacity sharing.

Manuel Barange, Assistant Director General and Director of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division, FAO, emphasized aquatic foods as important sources of vitamins, minerals, and essential micronutrients, critical for brain development and cognitive function. Barange called for: recognizing the role of aquatic food and including them in food security policies; making better use of aquatic food, reducing post-harvest loss and waste; and managing fisheries effectively and growing aquaculture sustainably, supporting small-scale fishers and post-harvest workers.

“Across coastal and island communities, tuna is a way of life,” and yet it is also “a high-value global commodity, and an affordable and nutritionally dense source of food for millions of low income and food insecure communities across the world,” stressed Rhea Moss-Christian, Executive Director, Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission. Noting that 95% of tuna supply is not overfished, as per the FAO’s 2025 Review of the State of the World Fishery Resources, Moss-Christian highlighted that to ensure tuna continues to serve its vital role, it is necessary to focus on sustainable resource management, equitable access to and inclusive value chains, expanding local processing, supporting small-scale fishers, and reducing trade barriers and tariffs.

Ciyong Zou, Deputy-Director-General and Managing Director, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), emphasized the importance of inclusive and sustainable industrial value chains to building resilient value chains, highlighting efforts to: reduce post-harvest loss through improved packaging and storage; modernize food value chains in terms of occupational health and food safety standards to expand market access opportunities, job creation, and retainment of value locally; and advance circular economy approaches.

Jörn Schmidt, Director, Sustainable Aquatic Food Systems, WorldFish, stressed the role of aquatic food systems in tackling poverty, hunger, and climate impacts, underlining that aquatic foods such as fish are nutritional powerhouses rich in micronutrients and that seaweed and other aquatic foods can contribute to ecosystem restoration and community resilience; urged support for small-scale fishers and aquatic farmers, women, youth, and IPLCs through decentralized, participatory, and community-based production systems; and emphasized the importance of securing tenure rights, fostering local agency, and reducing dependence on imports.

“Food security is national security,” underlined Gideon Henderson, Chief Scientific Advisor, Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, UK. Henderson highlighted: the benefits that food from the Ocean provide, as alternatives to emissions-intensive land production; the challenges arising from food waste, supply chain leakages, and pressures on the Ocean due to climate change, land use practices, and overexploitation; and the need to decrease practices that cause environmental harm, noting UK plans to reduce bottom trawling in 41 MPAs.

During discussions, delegates representing individual countries and regional groups emphasized, among other things:

• the interconnectedness between SDG 14 and the broader 2030 Agenda, in particular SDG 1 (no poverty) and SDG 2 (zero hunger);
• the necessity of raising global awareness of the role aquatic blue foods play in achieving food security, improved nutrition, poverty eradication, and climate resilience, and recognizing their significance in international and national climate policies;
• inclusive governance, infrastructure development, technology transfer, capacity building, market access, finance, data sharing, and regional integration and partnerships for the development of blue economy strategies, underscoring the special circumstances and vulnerabilities of SIDS;
• the need to strengthen ecosystem-based management, community participation, and food value chain development, empowering small-scale fishers and vulnerable coastal communities, and ensuring their fair access to markets;
• the need to invest in modern science and technology, including innovative climate smart aquaculture, toward minimizing losses and maximizing resource efficiency; and
• aquatic food not only as a source of calories and protein but also as a tool for development, health, dignity, peace, and shared prosperity.

Representatives of international, regional, and non-governmental organizations stressed, among other things:

• small-scale fishers and local communities, including women and youth, need to participate in decision making, co-management plans, and blue economy projects;
• the importance of addressing the uneven distribution of marine food sources by improving value chains and fostering equitable and inclusive food systems, including by enabling improved processing, traceability, and extending the shelf life of marine foods;
• the need for reliable, transparent, and science-based data; and
• blue investment initiatives aimed at offsetting the ecological footprint of maritime sectors through investment in marine restoration projects, including the Ocean Assist Programme of the Water Revolution Foundation.

Panel 10: Enhancing the conservation and sustainable use of the Ocean and its resources by implementing international law as reflected in UNCLOS: This panel took place on Friday afternoon, co-chaired by Heraldo Muñoz, Special Envoy for the Ocean, Chile, and Penelope Ridings, Member of the International Law Commission, New Zealand, and moderated by François Alabrune, Ambassador of France to the Netherlands. Discussions centered around a concept paper (A/CONF.230/2025/13).

Reaffirming that UNCLOS provides a legal, comprehensive, and key framework for the conservation and sustainable use of Ocean resources and for the implementation of SDG 14, Muñoz stressed that blatant inequalities in states’ capacities, infrastructure, and access to marine technology, funding, and technical assistance necessitate cooperation at all levels to bridge these gaps.

Ridings underscored UNCLOS’s historic significance in guiding the development of a web of regional and global instruments, and emphasized it is key for the implementation of the entire 2030 Agenda. Ridings highlighted the importance of international, regional, and subregional cooperation for achieving all goals associated with holistic Ocean governance.

Alabrune underscored the centrality of UNCLOS for the conservation and sustainable use of the Ocean and its resources.

Setting the scene on the current regime and developments related to international law as reflected in UNCLOS, Elinor Hammarskjöld, Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and UN Legal Counsel, emphasized that the threats facing the Ocean are multifaceted and interconnected, and highlighted that new and emerging uses of the Ocean bring both challenges and opportunities. Stressing that a lot still needs to be done for Ocean health, Hammarskjöld underscored recent developments on: the BBNJ Agreement; work under the ISA on the exploitation regulations for deep-sea mining; the negotiations for a plastics treaty; the adoption of a revised strategy on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from ships by the IMO; the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) Advisory Opinion on Climate Change; the GBF; and the final report of the study group on sea-level rise of the International Law Commission

Leticia Carvalho, Secretary General, ISA, stressed ISA’s mandate to organize and control mineral activities in the Area (the seabed and subsoil thereof in areas beyond national jurisdiction), noting that ISA’s stewardship of the Area is not an aspirational principle but binding in international law, prohibiting claims of sovereignty in the Area and exploitation outside the agreed multilateral framework. ISA’s mandate¾to organize and control mineral activities in the Area¾is central in upholding this principle. Carvalho highlighted work of ISA members toward developing exploitation regulations for deep-sea mining, drawing attention to regional environmental management systems, environmental impact assessments, as well as provisions on capacity building and technology transfer. Carvalho reiterated that “the deep seabed cannot become the Wild West,” and invited all to “work together to ensure the collective stewardship of the deep seabed and its resources, one of the planet’s last frontiers.”

“Safeguarding the Ocean depends not only on ambition but on a shared commitment to the rules-based international order, grounded in science, equity and multilateralism,” emphasized Grethel Aguilar, Director-General, IUCN. Aguilar drew attention to the importance of foregrounding human rights and supporting Ocean defenders, including IPLCs and small-scale fishers who actively protect the marine environment; and highlighted the launch of the Technical Assistance Facility to assist countries in ratifying and implementing the BBNJ Agreement.

Lan-Anh Nguyen, Vice President of the Asian Society of International Law and UNCLOS Annex VII Arbitrator, stressed the role of UNCLOS in providing the fundamental legal architecture for implementation of SDG 14 through legal obligations requiring protection and preservation of the marine environment, and the evolution of these legal obligations through a variety of international conventions, protocols, agreements, and soft law mechanisms; and emphasized the potential for the BBNJ Agreement to foster legal coherence to align global marine governance under a single institutional framework.

Kentaro Nishimoto, School of Law, Tohoku University, Japan, underlined the role of international courts and tribunals in clarifying obligations under UNCLOS, emphasizing in particular the ITLOS Advisory Opinion on Climate Change, which affirmed that anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions constitute marine pollution under the provisions of UNCLOS, noting that the Advisory Opinion clarified that: a genuine effort not to exceed a global temperature increase of 1.5°C is necessary to comply with UNCLOS provisions; and that UNCLOS obligations require taking measures for adaptation, resilience, precautionary action, and restoration of marine habitats and ecosystems.

Emphasizing that the principle of the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from marine genetic resources lies at the heart of the BBNJ Agreement, Daniel Wilde, Head of Oceans, Commonwealth Secretariat, stressed that this principle demands: scientific knowledge and data is accessible to all; equitable participation in marine research and the development of Ocean technologies; and the sharing of monetary benefits arising therefrom, calling for implementable, transparent, and accountable modalities to that end.

Nathaniel Khng, Minister-Counsellor (Legal), Permanent Mission of Singapore to the UN, stressed there can be no selective application of UNCLOS, which was adopted as a package, and urged further capacity building and technical assistance to build the capacities of SIDS, LDCs, and LLDCs to effectively implement UNCLOS obligations.

In the ensuing discussion, delegates representing regional groups and individual states highlighted, among other things:

• UNCLOS acts as the constitution for the Ocean, providing stability and predictability, and a basis for all activities in the Ocean;
• the need to fulfill all obligations under UNCLOS and strengthen multilateralism, reaffirming the principles of equality, transparency, equity, and inclusivity in Ocean governance;
• the importance of expeditious entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement, the conclusion of the negotiations on a plastics treaty, and the centrality of the ITLOS Advisory Opinion on Climate Change, underscoring that effective implementation is key to ensure these legal frameworks fulfill their objectives;
• the need for inclusive governance structures, provision of legal, technical, and financial support, and capacity building, in particular for developing countries, including SIDS, LDCs, and LLDCs; and
• sea-level rise requires urgent, concerted mitigation actions by all states, emphasizing that those affected by sea-level rise will retain statehood and sovereignty, including regarding maritime zones.

International, regional, and non-governmental organizations stressed, among other things:

• the international instruments supporting UNCLOS, including binding and voluntary commitments;
• the importance of regional fisheries bodies and RFMOs for the conservations and sustainable use of fish stocks, emphasizing that much remains to be done; and
• the need for significantly greater financial resources than those currently committed to Ocean governance.

Closing Plenary

The closing plenary, held on Friday afternoon, was co-chaired by Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, Special Envoy of the French President for UNOC3, France, and Arnoldo André Tinoco, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship, Costa Rica.

Reports from Around the Conference: Christian Estrosi, Mayor of Nice and President of the Ocean Rise & Coastal Resilience Coalition, presented the main takeaway messages from the Ocean Rise & Coastal Resilience Summit held on 7 June. Estrosi highlighted the Summit’s success, emphasizing that “by giving the Ocean a chance, we are giving ourselves a chance.” Underscoring the Coalition’s objective to provide tangible solutions, Estrosi thanked all participants for their efforts, stressing that “we have made huge strides in the right direction.”

Loreley Picourt, Ocean & Climate Platform, emphasized that “the only agenda is the well-being of all, especially the most vulnerable,” and highlighted the vital science-policy interface, the need for strengthening financial mechanisms, and the evolving adaptation governance.

Jean Pierre Gattuso, Research Professor, Villefranche Oceanography Laboratory, and Peter Haugan, Policy Director, Institute of Marine Research, Norway, drew attention to the outcomes of the One Ocean Science Congress held from 3-6 June. Gattuso and Haugan stressed the Congress brought together the international scientific community, connecting knowledge, inspiring solutions, and accelerating action. They emphasized that Ocean science goes beyond the understanding of the environmental crisis, guiding efforts to address it. They called for: urgent action, stressing that the science is clear; advancing knowledge, prioritizing precaution where scientific gaps exist; and “turning knowledge into action and action into justice.”

Pascal Lamy, BEFF Co-Chair and Vice President, Paris Peace Forum, highlighted that the BEFF mobilized financial resources and built coalitions to enable investments in the sustainable blue economy, with new commitments totaling almost EUR 9 billion over the next five years, of which EUR 1 billion would be made available in 2025. Highlighting recommendations emerging from the BEFF, Angelique Pouponneau, Lead Ocean Negotiator, Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), stressed the need to, among other things, adopt harmonized blue finance taxonomies and robust measurement frameworks to bring coherence to Ocean finance; redirect harmful subsidies toward restoration; and expand innovative financial tools to unlock investments, highlighting the Ocean Investment Protocol.

The Co-Chairs of the ten Ocean Action Panels and their representatives shared insights, key messages, and recommendations from the thematic dialogues.

Delegates then approved the report of the conference (A/CONF.230/2025/L.2).

The REPUBLIC OF KOREA and CHILE affirmed their offer to co-host UNOC4 in 2028. PANAMA highlighted the success of UNOC3, but underscored that much remains to be done and time is running out, calling for strengthening civil society and youth participation in future meetings.

Outcome of the Conference: Co-Chair Tinoco introduced the declaration entitled “Our Ocean, Our Future: United for Urgent Action” (A/CONF.230/2025/L.1), as the outcome document of UNOC3. Delegates adopted the declaration.

The RUSSIAN FEDERATION requested their disassociation from the declaration’s call to ensure the swift entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement, in paragraph 26, to be reflected in the report of the meeting. VENEZUELA noted that their acceptance of the declaration should not be interpreted as a change to their legal position as a non-party to UNCLOS.

Final Outcome: In the declaration, Heads of State and Government and high-level representatives, with civil society and other relevant stakeholders:

• reaffirm a strong commitment to conserve and sustainably use the Ocean, seas, and marine resources, noting that a healthy, productive and resilient Ocean is essential for a sustainable Ocean-based economy, food security, and underpins deep cultural and social connections; and
• call to act with urgency to address the global emergency facing the Ocean with bold, ambitious, just and transformative action, and ensure all people, including women and girls, persons with disabilities, youth, people in vulnerable situations, and IPLCs, are fully and meaningfully empowered and included in Ocean-related decision-making.

On conserving the Ocean and its ecosystems, the declaration:

• calls for global action to minimize the impact of climate change and Ocean acidification on the health of the Ocean, its species, and its ecosystems, as well as coastal communities, emphasizing the importance of implementing the UNFCCC, the Paris Agreement, the CBD, and the GBF;
• reaffirms the commitment, as agreed in the GBF, to ensure that by 2030 at least 30% of terrestrial and inland water areas, and of marine and coastal areas, are effectively conserved and managed through area-based conservation measures including MPAs, and at least 30% of areas of degraded ecosystems are under effective restoration;
• commends the leadership of SIDS on sea level rise, including the 2024 AOSIS Leaders Declaration on Sea Level Rise and Statehood;
• acknowledges the urgent need for greater international cooperation and collective action to enhance the adaptive capacities and build the resilience of SIDS, LDCs, and coastal communities disproportionately impacted by climate change-related sea level rise while mitigating climate change;
• reaffirms a commitment to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, based on a comprehensive approach that addresses the full lifecycle of plastic;
• reaffirms a commitment to accelerating action to prevent, significantly reduce, and control marine pollution of all kinds, supporting the work of the IMO, FAO, and others to address abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear;
• reaffirms the need to adopt a source-to-sea approach and strengthen integrated coastal zone and Ocean management, marine spatial planning, climate mitigation and adaptation, as well as disaster risk reduction strategies to enhance the resilience of coastal and marine ecosystems and communities; and
• commits to nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based approaches to protect, conserve and restore coastal ecosystems.

On promoting sustainable Ocean-based economies, the declaration:

• recognizes the fundamental role of management tools, such as sustainable Ocean plans, and acknowledges the voluntary commitments of some coastal states to ensure 100% of Ocean areas under national jurisdictions are sustainably managed by 2030;
• calls for decisive and collective action to ensure sustainable fisheries and aquaculture systems, including through, among others, enhancing transparency, the use of technology, enhancing science- and knowledge-based management, promoting, scaling up and replicating successes, and working together to end IUU fishing;
• encourages states to promote participatory management schemes for small-scale fisheries;
• encourages states and RFMOs to regulate and promote the use of the best available technology to ensure effective monitoring, control, and surveillance, as well as compliance with conservation and management measures; and
• encourages WTO Members to deposit their instruments of acceptance of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, and invites WTO Members to conclude negotiations on additional provisions on fisheries subsidies contributing to overcapacity and overfishing.

Toward accelerating action, the declaration calls upon states that have not done so to ratify the BBNJ Agreement; commits to promoting quality education and lifelong learning for Ocean literacy; and encourages cooperation to strengthen regional initiatives, Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans.

Stressing that Ocean action must be based on the best available science and knowledge, including, traditional knowledge, knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and local knowledge systems, while recognizing and respecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples, the declaration further:

• commits to improving the scientific understanding of the Ocean, including through the World Ocean Assessments of the UN Regular Process for Global Reporting and Assessment of the State of the Marine Environment, the UN Decades of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030), and the assessments of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and IPBES;
• commits to strengthening coordinated international, regional, subregional, and national scientific observation and data collection efforts; and
• calls to enhance cooperation, including South-South and triangular cooperation, to strengthen mechanisms for collaboration, peer learning, knowledge-sharing, and exchange of best practices within marine scientific research.

Recognizing that SDG 14 is one of the least funded SDGs and that accelerating Ocean action globally requires significant and accessible finance, the fulfilment of existing commitments and obligations, and scaling up means of implementation to address the funding gap, the declaration:

• calls for greater mobilization of resources from all sources;
• calls for strengthening the provision of scaled up resources in developing countries, especially SIDS and LDCs, including public, grant-based, and concessional finance and non-debt instruments;
• promotes the sustainable Ocean-based economy, including as an attractive investment opportunity through instruments such as blue bonds, blue loans, and payment for ecosystem services;
• recognizes the importance of increasing scientific knowledge and development of research capacity of developing countries, in particular SIDS and LDCs, including through technology transfer and capacity-building; and
• underlines the need to support coastal communities, in particular small-scale and artisanal fisheries and sustainable aquaculture producers, women, youth, and IPLCs in developing and implementing locally driven adaptation measures.

The declaration notes with support the voluntary commitments made to implement SDG 14, including at UN Ocean Conferences, encouraging partnerships to expand initiatives and their impact, and encourages appropriate review and follow-up on the progress of the voluntary commitments.

Closing Remarks: In closing statements, Elinor Hammarskjöld, Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and UN Legal Counsel, noted that the Nice Ocean Action Plan offers a solid roadmap for future action, stressing the need to translate commitments into action, carrying the momentum forward. Emphasizing that cooperation leads to lasting change, Hammarskjöld said that “the hope for the Ocean and multilateralism grows stronger,” and outlined next steps toward holistic Ocean governance.

Peter Thomson, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean, urged shaping a new relationship with the Ocean, “one of regeneration, reciprocity, and respect, resetting the balance in our connection with Nature.” Thomson stressed that “science confirms the reality,” noting that “we have disrupted the Earth’s system with inevitable impacts to people and ecosystems,” and calling for urgent action. He concluded by noting that UNOC3’s “ambition and energy will accelerate our Ocean action around the world,” highlighting that much work needs to be done “before we meet again at UNOC4.”

“Now we have the compass, equipment, and direction, let us keep going and never regress,” said Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, Special Envoy of the French President for UNOC3, highlighting that the Conference has accelerated action towards ratification of the BBNJ Agreement, expanded the coalition calling for a precautionary pause on deep sea mining, foregrounded scientific research through the One Ocean Science Congress, and contributed to mobilizing finance through the BEFF.

Arnoldo André Tinoco, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship, Costa Rica, highlighted the meeting’s achievements, including providing political momentum for important multilateral processes and agreements, and emphasized that “only by working together, beyond borders, cultures, and sectors can we ensure the health of the Ocean, our common heritage.”

Thanking all delegates and participants for their hard work and contributions, Poivre d’Arvor gaveled UNOC3 to a close at 6:51 pm.

A Brief Analysis of the Third UN Ocean Conference

“No water, no life. No blue, no green. It is and we are.” Sylvia Earle

Life on Earth is intrinsically connected to the Ocean. Covering 70% of the planet’s surface, the variety of indispensable services the Ocean offers cannot be overstated. In fact, they are crucial for human survival and well-being.

One would expect that the human-Ocean relationship is, in the words of the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean, Peter Thomson, “one of respect, even reverence.” But instead, “we overexploit, pollute, and warm the Ocean so that coral reefs perish and sea levels rise.”

The challenges the Ocean faces from anthropogenic activities are multifaceted, including climate change, marine pollution, overexploitation, destruction of marine and coastal habitats, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, invasive species, and oil and gas extraction. These threats not only rob the Ocean of its aesthetic and inspirational value, but they directly endanger the survival of marine life, and with it, of humanity. There can be no sustainable future without a healthy Ocean.

The UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) offers a platform that brings multi-layered Ocean governance frameworks under the same roof, facilitating their interlinkages, and offering pragmatic solutions to interrelated challenges. While UNOC does not deliver binding outcomes, it functions as a lighthouse, offering clear signals of the political will to address all Ocean-related matters. UNOC3, taking place in turbulent times for multilateralism, focused on action and, according to many participants, was successful, offering a new wave of opportunities and demonstrating strong political momentum for cooperative work toward a healthy, productive, and sustainable Ocean.

This brief analysis will focus on recent developments that attracted participants’ attention during UNOC3, progress made, remaining concerns, and the path ahead in the common effort to reshape humanity’s relationship with the marine environment.

Making Waves

The Ocean policy seascape has shifted considerably since UNOC2 in 2022, with several significant achievements in Ocean policy propelling the policy agenda toward sustainable Ocean governance. Most prominent among them are developments addressing biological diversity, fisheries, and plastic pollution, which were at the forefront of discussions at UNOC3.

Following more than a decade of negotiations, the Agreement under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), adopted in June 2023, was expected by many to be a game changer for Ocean governance. UNOC3 was widely regarded as an opportunity to make progress toward entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement, which requires 60 ratifications. This was indeed the case with 19 ratifications formally submitted during the course of the week, bringing the total to 51. With only nine more ratifications remaining, many delegates underscored the BBNJ Agreement’s importance and others noted their country’s intention to ratify soon. While one delegate stated during the closing plenary that “we should have left UNOC3 with the BBNJ Agreement having entered into force,” others were optimistic about closing in on the final ratifications soon, perhaps even before the next meeting of the BBNJ Preparatory Commission, to be held in August 2025.

Equally prominent was the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) under the Convention on Biological Diversity, concluded in December 2022. Participants focused, in particular, on the marine element of GBF Target 3 (conserve 30% of land, waters, and seas by 2030), often referred to as the 30-by-30 target. Many delegates highlighted efforts at the national level toward the establishment of new marine protected areas (MPAs), creating a sense of optimism that the target can be achieved, offering hope to fragile marine ecosystems. Among the commitments heard throughout the week, the indication by French Polynesia that plans were ongoing to place their entire EEZ under protection stood out, in line with the call by the 100% Alliance for Sustainable Ocean Management for all coastal and Ocean states to commit to sustainably manage 100% of ocean areas under national jurisdiction.

Many highlighted the vital role of fish for the survival of vulnerable coastal communities and toward achieving food and nutritional security. In this connection, delegates emphasized the significance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies under the World Trade Organization (WTO), adopted in June 2022, which prohibits subsidies that contribute to IUU fishing. The Agreement needs 111 ratifications by WTO Members to enter into force. By week’s end, only nine more were needed for the new set of rules to become legally enforceable and alleviate some of the pressures subsidies place on marine ecosystems.

Last but by no means least, several delegates revamped their commitment to conclude an ambitious and legally binding plastics treaty, pointing to what many hope will be the final negotiating session in Geneva, in August 2025. With plastic contributing significantly to the pollution of the marine environment, many see the adoption of this treaty, alongside other developments such as the establishment of a science-policy panel on chemicals, waste, and pollution, as vital for both Ocean and human health. Although much work remains to reach agreement on contentious issues concerning plastics, Inger Andersen, Executive Director, UNEP, was quick to rebut suggestions that negotiations “have derailed,” emphasizing that “progress has been made with countries working hard to get to the finish line.”

These developments represent only a patchwork of the dense and multi-layered web of instruments, organizations, and initiatives that together make up the Ocean policy seascape. A central node in this Ocean governance architecture remains UNCLOS, often referred to as “the Constitution of the Ocean.” This central pillar, together with a multitude of frameworks, including conventions tackling marine pollution from ships, treaties under the programme of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), regional fisheries management organizations, and agreements on aquatic species, create a dense and complex structure. In addition to the required partnerships to address interlinkages, all these instruments are adapting to contemporary conditions and policy agendas, particularly the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, directed toward achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14, life below water).

Turning the Tide

Ambitious interventions were the loudest at UNOC3, from funding commitments to the expanding coalition for a moratorium or precautionary pause on deep-sea mining. Yet, throughout the Ocean Action Panels held over the course of the week, in between descriptions of tangible progress and new commitments, there were strong calls emphasizing the oceanic work that lies ahead to turn the tide toward regeneration of Ocean health. As many delegates underscored, future efforts will need to focus, in particular, on implementation, overcoming protracted differences, and finance.

While many were in a celebratory mood noting that the entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement is around the corner, some emphasized that this important milestone is only the first step. Effective implementation hinges on several factors, including institutional arrangements and provision of adequate resources for implementation. For example, area-based management tools feature in both the BBNJ and the GBF, providing tools to restrict human activities in designated areas, offering respite for ecosystems and species under stress. However, as some delegates highlighted, “quantitative targets should not become objectives in and of themselves.”

Many noted that “spatial management tools need to be carefully and inclusively designed” in order to be truly effective. As one delegate stressed, “the quality of MPAs should be the focus of our discussions, not only their coverage area.”  In this respect, participants expressed concern that several states still allow bottom trawling or overfishing in some areas under protection and stressed that only holistic implementation of the agreed frameworks can guarantee the long-term sustainability of the marine environment.

Many voices at UNOC3 emphasized the need to focus, in particular, on the deep seabed as an integral part of the marine environment. While delegates pointed to the growing coalition of states calling for a moratorium on deep-sea mining, which has now amassed 37 states from a mere handful at UNOC2, others affirmed their trust in the work of the International Seabed Authority (ISA). Amid pressures on multilateralism, including from unilateral actions, UN Secretary-General António Guterres stressed, in opening UNOC3, the need to ensure that the deep-sea does not become a new “Wild West.” Threats from unilateral actions may partly explain the preference of some states for the ISA to continue work, as a matter of priority, to develop the regulatory framework for the commercial exploitation of deep-sea minerals.

Finance remains a critical issue across multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs), and Ocean-related processes are especially affected, with SDG 14 being one of the least funded SDGs. UNOC3 and the Blue Economy and Finance Forum (BEFF) that preceded it led to the announcement of numerous new initiatives as well as several proposals for innovative financial tools to close the finance gap. However, although the EUR 8.7 billion pledged over the next five years at the BEFF constitutes progress, it falls well short of the USD 175 billion that is needed annually. In addition to mobilizing such funds, some participants stressed that new financial tools must be carefully designed lest they run the risk of deepening existing inequities.

All Hands on Deck

While there was cause for optimism at UNOC3, significant work remains to put the Ocean on a genuine path to recovery. Addressing the multi-faceted challenges facing the Ocean requires not only bold commitments, but the institutional frameworks, political will, and resources to execute them. To that end, the interconnected web of the Ocean policy seascape requires new forms of cooperation between intergovernmental organizations, regions, states, cities, and local communities.

As reiterated throughout UNOC3, however, the work to advance sustainable Ocean governance also requires new and participatory governance arrangements. Across the blue planet, Indigenous peoples, local and coastal communities in their diversity, women, youth, and small-scale fishers play vital roles as stewards of the Ocean. Fostering sustainable Ocean governance requires not only, as LaToya Cantrell, Mayor of New Orleans, US, said, that “no one is left behind,” but also that they are “brought along,” empowered with the tools and resources to act. Realizing these goals in the near future will determine not only the future of the Ocean but also humanity’s prosperity and even survival.