UN Ocean Conference sets sail off France on World Oceans Day
Dozens of research and expedition vessels from worldwide set sail just off the French coastal city of Nice on Sunday to start the 3rd U.N. Ocean Conference. The event, themed “Ocean Marvels,” saw the vessels cruise across Nice’s Baie des Anges, or Bay of Angels, to spotlight the beauty and significance of the ocean while urging world leaders not to lose sight of its value as they make decisions about the world’s future. Thousands of delegates, including presidents, scientists, and environmental advocates, were expected to address growing threats to the ocean and the need to turn promises into protection.
The United Nations has labeled the threats a global emergency facing the world’s oceans as they confront rising temperatures, plastic pollution choking marine life, and relentless overexploitation of fish and other resources. Simply 2.7% of the global ocean is effectively protected from harmful activities like industrial fishing and deep-sea mining, far below the global goal of 30% by 2030.
At the heart of the conference is the push to ratify the High Seas Treaty adopted in 2023. If enacted, the treaty would allow nations to establish marine protected areas in international waters for the first time, covering nearly two-thirds of the ocean and currently largely ungoverned.
Many nations are expected to announce new marine protected areas and restrictions on damaging activities within their existing networks during the conference. The “Ocean Marvels” fleet will remain docked and open to the public until the conference concludes, with a focus on marine conservation and sustainable ocean management.
A United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) official emphasized the critical role oceans play in sustaining human life and driving economic growth. Oceans provide food, regulate weather patterns, produce oxygen, and serve as a vital transportation medium. The blue economy offers investment opportunities in sustainable fisheries, coral reef preservation, renewable energy, and circular economy practices, presenting avenues for economic growth and environmental stewardship.
