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The 3rd UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) takes place from 9 to 13 June, in Nice, France, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica. This meeting unites world leaders, scientists, policymakers, and ocean advocates to accelerate action for ocean protection and sustainable use.
The Conference aims to support further and urgent action to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
Follow our daily updates for the latest announcements, events, commitments, and highlights from global efforts to safeguard our ocean.
Thursday, 12 June
✅ Democratic Republic of the Congo will ratify the BBNJ agreement.
✅ Colombia has committed to restoring 13,000 hectors of mangroves.
✅ The International Seabed Authority stated that $260 million was invested in deep sea environmental studies and 1.19 million square km of the seabed is currently protected from any future exploitation.
✅ Panama declared its position against industrial krill fishing in the Southern Ocean, deep sea mining and whaling. Urged for the need to ratify the BBNJ agreement.
✅ Pacific Islanders urge for financial support for small island developing states.
✅ The International Whaling Commission Warned that 1 in 4 cetaceans are threatened with extinction. The primary causes are bycatch, vessel collisions, marine debris, chemical pollution and climate change. Bycatch is the single biggest threat; it is estimated to kill more than 300,000 animals each year. Working to Identify transboundary gaps in existing conservation.
✅ UN Representative of Trade and Development stated that overfishing affects 37.7% of fish stocks, up from 10% in 1974. Additionally, over 80% of global trade moves by sea.
✅ Ocean leader from the Philippines congratulated the 37 countries that have stood up for the rights of the deep sea. “Deep sea is the common heritage of humankind. It belongs to the ancestors.”
✅ High Seas Alliance announced that it has been a historic week for protecting the high seas, which covers nearly half of the planet. The conference started with 31 of the 60 ratifications needed to bring the high seas treaty into effect. It currently stands at 50 country ratifications and 136 signatures. It could be a matter of weeks if not days before the treaty goes into force.
✅ Blue Forest has been working to restore mangroves in Mozambique with indigenous communities for over three years. Blue Forest has successfully planted 10 million mangroves since UNOC 2.
✅ Monica Medina, Former Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs of the United States stated, “Our collective commitment to the ocean endures even in stormy seas.”
Wednesday, 11 June
✅ Kenya will host the 11th edition of the Our Ocean Conference in 2026.
✅ Fiji remains committed to its 30 by 30 target and has designated 5 marine reserves as a part of this commitment.
✅ Seychelles has completed its marine spatial plan and signed its commitment into law in March 2025. 1.3 million square km have been protected.
✅ Zimbabwe is committed to reduce per capita emissions by 40% by 2035.
✅ Equatorial-Guinea is launching an appeal for a coordinated global action based on climate justice. In West Africa, illegal fishing is directly affecting food sovereignty.
✅ São Tomé and Príncipe has developed a national strategy plan for fisheries and agriculture for the decade 2024-2034.
✅ In El Salvador over 20% of the shoreline is under official conservation.
✅ Palestine calls for an international legally binding on plastic pollution.
✅ St. Kitts and Nevis as a small island developing state, applaud the NGOs who working directly in fishing villages. “Change will come from by the women and youth leaders leading in this thriving multilateral space.”
✅ Turkey reaffirm the commitment to net zero emission target set for 2053 and currently 2.5 million hectares of marine areas are protected.
✅ Philippines has established the ocean environment task force and is collecting data in 8 marine scientific stations.
✅ Ukraine expressed how the war is undermining its ability to achieve the SDGs, and the war is causing irreversible damages.
✅ Czech Republic representative emphasized that only 10% of the sustainable development for the SDG14 2030 targets have been met.
✅ Japan has registered a total of 24 commitments, a total of 84 million US dollars.
✅ Ecuador is working closely with FAO to combat illegal fishing.
✅ Israel has declared two new marine national reserves, increasing the marine protected areas to 6%.
✅ Algeria has developed a coastal erosion adaptation plan to rehabilitate sand dunes and wetlands.
✅ Azerbaijan announced that, in cooperation with its neighbouring Caspian countries, it has agreed to a 10 year ban on sturgeon fishing.
✅ Pakistan talked about common but differentiated responsibilities when protecting and restoring the ocean.
✅ Sri Lanka is harmonising their domestic legislation with the BBNJ Agreement to turn commitment into concrete action.
✅ Estonia highlighted that innovations like autonomous vessels help them with data analysis.
✅ Barbados is establishing a blue-green bond with the assistance of the Blue Green Climate Fund to finance a just transition to renewables.
✅ Malta launched a new Marine Conservation Program with a 2M euro budget cofinanced by European Union Funds.
✅ The Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean highlighted that this sea is warming up 20% more rapidly than the global average.
Tuesday, 10 June
15:00 Fourth plenary session
✅ During the UK’s participation in UNOC’s plenary session, Emma Hardy announced:
- The introduction of the necessary legislation to ratify the High Seas Treaty, also known as the BBNJ Agreement, by the end of this year.
- The contribution to the voluntary trust fund to support the vital work of BBNJ.
- The impending ratification of the International Maritime Organisation Cape Town Agreement.
- Joining the coalition to halt the extinction of sharks and rays
- A 4 million pounds uplift to the Global Fund for Coral Reefs, bringing total UK Government support to over 40 million pounds.
- The investment of 2.8 million pounds into the assistant facility to help small island developing states build resilient and sustainable blue economies.
Read the full story here.
✅ Antigua and Barbuda, like many developing countries, asked for support to protect the ocean, access to science and resources. They mentioned they welcome investment to fight for a healthier and more resilient ocean.
✅ Brunei revealed that they have a moratorium on new bottom trawling licences.
✅ Denmark declared that they have reached 6% of strictly protected areas, they ratified the BBNJ Agreement and support the moratorium on deep sea mining. Since May, they have chaired the Arctic Council.
✅ The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica reported that yesterday, they ratified the BBNJ Agreement.
✅ Senegal reminded the participants that in 2027, Dakar will host the 6th International Congress on Marine Protected Areas.
✅ Djibouti called for the free exchange of scientific data and technology to protect marine life.
Ocean Action Panel 4: Preventing and significantly reducing marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities
✅ 80% of the nutrient pollution is from land-based sources.
✅ The European Investment bank will provide 50 billion euros in water funding over the next 3 years.
✅ New depths of the ocean are polluted. Plastic has reached the twilight zone, and the qualities of plastic are increasing in the lantern fish.
✅ Researchers are measuring ocean acidification and the direct effects on phytoplankton. Phytoplankton is at the base of several aquatic food webs.
✅ Eutrophication is a global concern. In Finland, the Baltic Sea Action Plan is designed to reduce nutrient run off and prevent dead zones.
10:00 Morning plenary session
✅ A representative of the government of Mauritius mentioned their aim to create a marine protected area around Chagos.
✅ Germany’s Environment Minister talked about their support for a plastic agreement covering the entire plastic cycle.
✅ Korea confirmed its intention to host UNOC 04 in 2028 together with Chile.
✅ Sweden’s Environment Minister expressed their support for a moratorium on precautionary deep sea mining
✅ Chile’s Environmental Minister highlighted the country’s commitment to protecting the ocean through the expansion of marine protected areas in Rapa Nui and Juan Fernández
✅ A representative of the Maldives government, stated how this island nation is supporting sustainable fishing methods like one by one tuna fishing, at the same time that they are modernising their vessels with stronger science and monitoring equipment.
Ocean Action Panel 3 : Mobilizing finance for ocean actions in the support of SDG14
✅ Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water (SDG 14) has received the least amount of financial report of all the SDGs. Only 30 billion has been committed since 2010, the estimated need is 175 billion per year.
✅ SDG 14 could serve as the foundation for achieving the entire SDG 2030 goals. The ocean is a solution for climate stability, food security and biodiversity.
✅ Small Island Developing States (SIDS) host less than 1% of the world and represents some 30% of all oceans and seas. SIDs are a group of 39 UN member states and 18 associate members facing unique social, economic, and environmental vulnerabilities.
✅ Accelerating action on ocean finance is critically particularly for small island states and least developing states.
✅ Redirect harmful fish re-subsidies and fossil fuels and redirecting it towards sustainability and equity. As a solution, we need to redirect financing from ocean negative investments to align with incentives that encourage the longer-term health of our oceans.
Monday, 9 June
09:00 Morning plenary session
✅ President Macron announced the creation of one of the world’s largest networks of marine protected areas, with a target of 4 million km² under protection of which 900 km² is highly protected.
This effort is made possible through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between the Government of French Polynesia and a coalition of global ocean champions that includes Bloomberg Philanthropies, Ocean 5 (O5), Blue Nature Alliance, Wyss Foundation, Becht Foundation, Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy, Blue Marine Foundation and Bezos Earth Fund. Together, these partners bring expertise and resources to ensure the MMA delivers lasting, measurable impact for people, planet, and future generations. The new MPA framework lays the foundation for:
- A world-class, low-impact commercial fishery, designed to operate sustainably and responsibly.
- Robust marine protected areas (MPAs), integrating up to 2 million km² of highly protected zones (IUCN Category II) across the Austral and Marquesas Islands and other priority areas, will be legally established over the next 15 months.
- Support for traditional and artisanal fishing zones (ZPRs), bolstering local economies while safeguarding Polynesian heritage.
- Revitalization of the traditional rāhui system, embedding Indigenous-led conservation and ancestral wisdom at the heart of marine governance.
With this initiative, French Polynesia is establishing:
- The largest MPA system in the world under a single jurisdiction
- A moratorium on deep-sea mining, exemplifying strong leadership in marine biodiversity preservation
- Maintenance of low industrial fishing density across its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
- Deepened collaboration on high seas MPAs and ocean corridors, supporting global efforts to meet international biodiversity targets
✅ Emmanuel Macron revealed that around 30 heads of state and government have committed to a moratorium on deep-sea mining.
✅ The French president reported The Neptune Mission Ocean has launched, a European programme for the scientific exploration of the deep ocean.
✅ Macron also announced his push to ratify the High Seas Treaty, which would enable conservation in international waters.
✅ Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva declared Brazil’s intention to ratify the High Seas Treaty.
✅ The President of Brazil described Brazil’s commitment to Blue Education and the commitment to prioritise climate issues are at the heart of school curriculum.
✅ President of Peru commits to the management of maritime traffic to protect the migration of humpback whales and the importance of recognizing indigenous ancestral knowledge.
✅ President of Sierra Leone announced that Sierra Leone will expand the maritime protection area to cover 30% of marine and coastal zones by 2030. Sierra Leone will also restore 30,000 hectares of mangrove forests by 2033.
✅ President of Jordan announced the Aqaba Blue Ventures and Global Center for Ocean Regeneration. This centre will be a proving ground for new technologies for global use. A next generation coral propagation farm has enacted.
15:00 Second plenary meeting
✅ Costa Rica’s President shared how the country pioneered a marine environmental service program that rewards communities for protecting ocean ecosystems. Thanks to this initiative, 167 shellfishing families in the Pacific now earn income for caring for vital mangroves.
✅ The President of the Comoros highlighted collaboration with the US to combat illegal fishing using drone surveillance.
✅ Several heads of state announced they would ratify the BBNJ Agreement or had already done so, like the Prime Minister of Latvia.
✅ The President of the Dominican Republic called for an internationally coordinated response to tackle the growing sargassum emergency.
✅ Different countries called for financial, scientific, and technological support for developing countries to protect the ocean.
✅ The Prime Minister of Greece stated his intention to create two new national marine parks. Thus, exceeding the 30×30 target before time. He committed to banning bottom trawling in all Greek marine parks, as well as the aim to declare 10% of their territorial waters as no-take zones, supporting initiatives of local fishing communities like Amorgorama.
Blue Marine has supported Amorgorama with scientific research, fostering partnerships, developing conservation plans, and promoting community-led marine protection to help establish Fisheries Restricted Areas around Amorgos, Greece. This has been a joint effort with the Professional Fishers’ Association of Amorgos “Chozoviotissa”, Cyclades Preservation Fund and the Agricultural University of Athens.
✅ The President of Spain promised the creation of five new MPAs, declared his support for a precautionary deep sea mining moratorium and reminded the participants of his intentions to donate 8.5 million euros to an initiative to protect the Mediterranean.
✅ The Prime Minister of the Cook Islands talked about his country’s experience creating a dynamic ocean protection zone for whales to safeguard the migratory corridors of the humpback whales. This corridor adapts to the season and responds to its purpose, conservation and recovery.
Ocean Action Panel 2: Increasing ocean-related scientific cooperation, knowledge, capacity building, marine technology and education to strengthen the science-policy interface for ocean health
✅ Panama highlighted the establishment of the first transnational marine area (10 million square kilometres) in collaboration with Ecuador, Costa Rica and Colombia.
✅ Mr. Vidar Helgeson, the executive secretary of UNESCO warned that that the global temperatures of the ocean are rapidly increasing. From 2023 to 2024 the heat content of the upper 2,000 metres of the global ocean has significantly increased.
✅ Mr. Lee Jiabao of the Chinese Academy of Engineering is conducting environmental assessments of the ecological carry capacity of the deep sea.
✅ Pradeep Singh senior project lead from Oceano Azul Foundation emphasised the importance of having blue curriculum in schools and their ongoing work in Portugal.
✅ The Pacific region called for a deep transformation of scientific collaboration to bolster traditional knowledge and regional ownership of technology and marine education. The Pacific Islands manage 20% of the world’s oceans within their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) but only have 0.2% of the global population.
✅ 0.03% of endorsed ocean actions are actually led by small island states despite stewardship of 30% of the ocean.
Summary points:
Ocean literacy and blue curriculum were core themes during the Ocean Action Panel. Science needs to be inclusive and to be actionable as a foundation for better ocean governance. There is often a gap in scientific capacity and there is a need for essential ocean science and knowledge to inform policy.
