UNOC3: A Step Forward For Ocean Protection?

Global News Media Info

Suzanne Raqbi, France

June 24, 2025

From June 9 to 13, 2025, the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) was held in Nice, France, bringing together 175 UN member states, 64 Heads of State and Government, 28 leaders of UN, intergovernmental, and international organizations, 115 ministers, and 12,000 delegates from across all maritime regions. In total, over 90% of the world’s Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) were represented at this major summit, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica. This edition aimed to accelerate progress on Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG14), centered on marine conservation, with three key priorities:

• Advancing multilateral ocean-related processes to raise ambition for ocean protection,
• Mobilizing funding for SDG14 and supporting sustainable blue economy development,
• Strengthening and sharing marine science for better-informed policymaking.

While international conferences are often criticized for producing few tangible outcomes, it is worth analyzing the key announcements and discussions from UNOC3 to assess whether these objectives were effectively addressed.

Progress toward ratifying the High Seas Treaty

One of the major topics at UNOC3 was the Agreement on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ)—also known as the “High Seas Treaty.” This legally binding instrument, introduced at the UN in June 2023, seeks to regulate and protect biodiversity in international waters. It focuses on four main areas:

• Marine genetic resources, including fair and equitable benefit-sharing,
• Area-based management tools, including marine protected areas (MPAs),
• Environmental impact assessments in the high seas,
• Capacity building and marine technology transfer.

To enter into force, the treaty requires 60 ratifications by September 2025. UNOC3 marked significant progress, with 18 additional countries submitting their ratification instruments, bringing the total to 50 ratifications. Furthermore, 6 states that have completed national ratification processes and 12 more preparing to do so committed to depositing their instruments by the UN General Assembly’s high-level week in September 2025. The treaty’s entry into force would be a landmark win for ocean conservation, particularly in the High Seas, which make up 50% of the Earth’s surface. In anticipation, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Colombia jointly announced the first transboundary high seas marine protected area.

Global momentum for a deep-sea mining moratorium

The United States, the world’s largest maritime power, was notably absent from UNOC3. This absence drew attention, especially following a controversial executive order signed by Donald Trump in April 2025, authorizing deep-sea mining in international waters. This decision directly contradicts the work of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), a UN-affiliated body managing mineral resources in the deep sea—considered the “common heritage of humankind.” However, as the U.S. is not an ISA member, it is not legally bound by its regulations. Deep-sea mining poses significant threats to marine biodiversity and climate mitigation, as it may release carbon stored in seafloor sediments.

In stark contrast, at UNOC3 in Nice, 37 countries called for a global moratorium on deep-sea mining. Countries like Slovenia, Latvia, Cyprus, and the Marshall Islands joined existing supporters of the moratorium, urging a precautionary pause and emphasizing the need to study deep-sea ecosystems before considering their exploitation.

The European Ocean Pact: a strategic investment

On the opening day of the conference, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen introduced the European Ocean Pact, committing the European Union (EU) to invest approximately €1 billion to protect marine life, boost the blue economy, support coastal and island communities, improve maritime security, advance ocean research, and strengthen ocean diplomacy. The EU also pledged to halve plastic and nutrient pollution and restore 20% of its marine ecosystems by 2030. The pact is expected to culminate in a comprehensive Ocean Act by 2027, providing a unified framework for implementing these objectives.

Creation of the world’s largest Marine Protected Area

French Polynesian President Moetai Brotherson announced the designation of a new Marine Protected Area (MPA) encompassing the entirety of the territory’s Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ). With over 4.5 million km² covered, it will make it the largest MPA in the world. Roughly 24% of this zone will be highly or fully protected, and it was noted that MPAs deliver a return of $3–4 for every dollar invested, highlighting their economic as well as ecological value.

Bridging the Ocean Funding Gap for Sustainable Development Goal 14

In 2015, the UN adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals to be met by 2030. SDG14 (“Life Below Water”) seeks to conserve and sustainably use ocean and marine resources. Achieving this goal requires an estimated $175 billion annually, yet it has received the least funding of all SDGs, with just $10 billion invested globally between 2015 and 2019. This shortfall is particularly critical for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), whose vast EEZs are vital to their economies and ecosystems.

At UNOC3, a total of €3 billion in public financing and €160 million in private investments were pledged to support sustainable ocean management. While these are encouraging signs of renewed momentum, they remain far below the required scale, highlighting the urgent need to close the ocean funding gap.

Inclusion of Indigenous and local communities

UNOC3 was marked by strong representation from 200 Indigenous and local community delegates, who asserted their right to be heard. These communities, often at the frontline of climate disasters such as rising sea levels, continue to be underrepresented in high-level decision-making. The newly launched One Oceana Coalition called for full recognition and inclusion of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in global ocean governance, stressing that traditional knowledge systems must be central to achieving the goals of the UN Decade of Ocean Science.

Youth Manifesto

The conference was also distinguished by the exceptional mobilization of youth. A Coalition for Emerging Ocean Leaders was formed, uniting around 30 youth networks and ECOPs (Early Career Ocean Professionals), including the Earthlanka Youth Network. Representing over 1.2 million young people, the coalition presented the Citizen of the Ocean Manifesto, a powerful call for:

• Youth inclusion in decision-making,
• Intergenerational equity,
• Indigenous rights,
• Decolonized ocean education,
• Equitable, accessible funding for youth- and community-led initiatives.

From words to waves of change?

To summarise, UNOC3 showcased bold announcements, increased political engagement, and growing inclusion of marginalized voices. Significant steps were made toward ratifying the High Seas Treaty, expanding marine protected areas, and amplifying youth and Indigenous representation. However, despite fresh financial commitments and diplomatic momentum, the gap between ambition and implementation remains wide—particularly in ocean financing and enforcement of moratoriums. As the 2030 deadline looms, the world must move beyond declarations and deliver on promises. The ocean can no longer afford the luxury of delay