Nice, France (AP) – The Third United Nations Marine Conference Kicks Off Monday The country is under pressure to convert years of commitments into actual ocean protection.
French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking in Nice, urged nations to transition “from words to action” in safeguarding the oceans. He stated, “The battle for the ocean is central to our long-standing fight for biodiversity, climate, our environment, and public health.”
The meeting highlights that only 2.7% of the ocean is effectively safeguarded from destructive extraction operations, as reported by the Marine Conservation Institute. This figure falls significantly short of the “30×30” goal, which aims to conserve 30% of land and oceans by 2030.
A primary focus of this year’s agenda is the ratification of the High Seas Treaty. Adopted in 2023, this landmark agreement allows nations to create marine reserves in international waters for the first time, covering nearly two-thirds of the ocean and is not to be underestimated.
The mountains are reflected in the waters of Port Cross National Park, France ahead of the United Nations Marine Conference on Saturday, June 7, 2025 (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag)
“We are pleased to announce that Mauro Randone, Regional Project Manager for the Mediterranean Marine Initiative at the World Wildlife Fund,” stated Mauro Randone. “The high seas are a shared asset, yet currently, they lack regulation.”
The ocean plays a crucial role In stabilizing the Earth’s climate and sustaining life. It produces half of the oxygen consumed, absorbs around 30% of carbon dioxide emissions, and captures more than 90% of the excess heat created by those emissions. Without a Healthy ocean, experts warn that climate objectives will remain unachievable.
The treaty will only take effect once 60 nations have ratified it. As of Monday, only 32 countries have done so. Advocates hope that the UNOC can generate sufficient momentum to surpass this threshold.
People swim as the ship ‘Ocean Wonder’ sails during a themed event celebrating World Marine Day ahead of the United Nations Marine Conference to be held in Nice, France on Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag)
“Two-thirds of the ocean falls outside national jurisdictions. This equates to half of our planet,” commented Minnaepps, director of Global Ocean Policy at the International Union for Conservation of Nature. “If 30% of the ocean excludes the high seas, it may struggle to achieve effective protection.”
Countries like South Korea, France, and the European Union advocate for the treaty, but many major maritime nations, including the remaining G20 members, have yet to endorse it. A diverse group of attendees, from governmental representatives to scientists and industry leaders, is expected at NICE. The US has yet to confirm its official delegation.
Transforming Paper Protection into Genuine Safeguards
In addition to the new commitments, the conference underscores the widening gap between declarations of marine protection and tangible conservation efforts.
France, a co-host of the conference, asserts it has exceeded the 30% target for marine conservation. However, environmental organizations maintain that fewer than 3% of French waters are genuinely protected from damaging activities such as trawling and industrial fishing.
Reports show that in 2024 alone, ships ventured over 100 times for bottom fishing, clocking more than 17,000 hours in France’s six ocean and natural parks, according to the Ocean Advocacy Group. Oceana.
“These areas have been declared protected, but this is misleading,” stated Enric Sara, founder of the National Geographic Pristine Sea Marine Reserve Project. “Most of this is merely political posturing. It’s essentially a paper park.”
This criticism is widespread across the continent. A new World Wildlife Fund Report indicates that while over 11% of European marine regions are designated for protection, only 2% of EU waters have a management plan.
The wandering cratena, or subtle, can be seen in the protected areas of Porquerolus National Park in France, prior to the UN Ocean Conference on Friday, June 6, 2025.
Advocates argue that industrial fishing interests resist implementing stricter protections, even though there’s evidence that well-managed reserves can enhance long-term fishing through “spillover effects.”
“The issue isn’t conservation; it’s overfishing,” Sarah pointed out. “The fishing industry’s most significant adversary is itself.”
Frustrated by governmental inaction, environmental groups are proactively engaging in enforcement. In May, Greenpeace aimed to drop 15 limestone rocks into the French Gulf du Lion, intending to physically obstruct bottom trawlers in areas designated for conservation. Established in 2008, this protected zone is designed to preserve deep-sea ecosystems, yet, according to activist group MedReact, 12 trawlers continue to operate there despite scientific alerts about ecological collapse.
The Gulf is currently one of the most overfished regions in the Mediterranean.
What Does UNOC Encompass?
This conference will present 10 panels on subjects including Blue Finance, Sustainable Fisheries, and Plastic Pollution. Deep Sea Mining is expected to be part of a broader conversation, and small island states may leverage these platforms to advocate for increased climate adaptation funding.
The outcomes of these discussions will lay the groundwork for a marine action plan—a declaration of voluntary commitment achieved through consensus, which will be unveiled at the United Nations in New York this July.
“There cannot be a healthy planet without a healthy ocean,” stated Peter Thomson, the United Nations envoy for the Ocean. “This is a pressing issue for us all.” ___