UN Ocean Conference 2025: Gains, Milestones, and the Roadblocks Ahead

The 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC‑3), held from June 9 to 13, 2025 in Nice, France, marked a pivotal moment for global ocean governance. Co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, this gathering brought together governments, scientists, businesses, civil society, Indigenous leaders, and NGOs in a powerful call to action — building on past conferences in New York (2017) and Lisbon (2022).

The theme, “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean”, underscored both ambition and urgency in a shared commitment to protect the ocean — the planet’s largest and most vital ecosystem.

This week’s conference showcased unprecedented political will and concrete progress, but also laid bare persistent challenges that threaten to stall the ocean recovery we urgently need.

Major Gains and Milestones

1. Nice Ocean Action Plan Adopted

The conference closed with the Nice Ocean Action Plan, a political declaration accompanied by a registry of voluntary commitments from states, businesses, civil society, and science communities. The plan frames a roadmap around three priorities: finalizing key ocean treaties, unlocking finance, and embedding science at the heart of ocean policy. It demonstrates renewed global political will — though its success hinges on turning pledges into results.

2. High Seas Biodiversity Treaty Nearing Entry into Force

One of the most significant developments was the rapid ratification of the High Seas Treaty (also known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction treaty, BBNJ). During the conference, 55 countries had ratified the treaty — just five short of the 60 required for the treaty to enter into force, expected by early 2026. This treaty is a landmark for ocean governance, aiming to protect marine biodiversity in international waters and regulate sustainable use.

3. Bold Marine Protected Area Commitments

The 30×30 goal — to protect at least 30% of the world's oceans by 2030 — was reaffirmed and reinforced with new pledges. French Polynesia unveiled the largest Marine Protected Area (MPA) to date, spanning around 5 million km², with more expansion planned. The UK committed to banning destructive bottom-trawling in 50% of its protected waters, signaling progress toward more effective ocean conservation.

4. Growing Momentum Against Deep-Sea Mining

At least 33 countries, including EU members and Pacific island nations, called for a moratorium on deep-sea mining. While not legally binding yet, this growing coalition highlights increasing caution about the ecological risks of exploiting the seabed before science fully understands its impacts.

5. Push for a Global Plastics Treaty

Almost 100 countries supported advancing negotiations for a legally binding global treaty on plastic pollution. This marks a vital step in addressing the growing crisis of ocean plastics, promising stronger international cooperation to curb plastic waste production, improve waste management, and hold producers accountable.

6. Financial Commitments for Ocean Action

Several development banks and investors pledged billions of euros for ocean sustainability projects. Highlights include:

• Over €8.7 billion committed at the Monaco Blue Economy & Finance Forum toward sustainable ocean industries.

• Development banks (France, Germany, Spain, EBRD) announced €3 billion to combat ocean plastics pollution by 2030.

• The Latin America–Caribbean development bank (CAF) pledged to double its ocean funding to $2.5 billion for 2025–30.

Additionally, the launch of an Ocean Finance Facility promises to better channel philanthropy and public funds to critical ocean science and conservation.

7. Frontline Communities Get a Seat at the Table

Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Indigenous leaders, and coastal communes secured improved representation, voicing urgent need for capacity and equitable access to ocean finance across panels and plenaries.

Setbacks and What’s Holding Us Back

Despite these promising advances, the conference underscored several areas where the global ocean agenda is still lagging.

1. Insufficient Ratifications and Delayed Treaty Entry

While the High Seas Treaty is close to entering into force, the delay leaves critical international waters vulnerable in the meantime. Without full legal force, mechanisms for enforcement, benefit sharing, and ecosystem protection remain limited.

2. Marine Protected Areas — Paper Parks More Than Real Protection

Though the 30×30 target is ambitious, currently only about 2.7% of the ocean is effectively protected, meaning truly enforced no-take zones. Many MPAs allow destructive activities like fishing and mining, reducing their conservation impact. Effective management and funding for enforcement remain major hurdles.

3. Plastics Treaty Negotiations Stall on Key Issues

The plastics treaty negotiations face intense resistance from industry interests and some governments on critical points like production caps and corporate responsibility. Without binding commitments, plastic pollution will continue to choke marine life.

4. No Binding Moratorium on Deep-Sea Mining Yet

While many countries support a pause on deep-sea mining, no binding international moratorium exists. Mining applications could proceed as soon as 2026, risking irreversible harm to deep-sea ecosystems.

5. Funding Gaps and Inequity

Though billions were pledged, the annual funding gap to achieve SDG 14 (life below water) is estimated at $175 billion — far exceeding current commitments. Many vulnerable coastal and island nations struggle to access these funds, hampering local conservation and climate adaptation efforts.

6. Enforcement and Accountability Weaknesses

A recurring theme was the lack of robust enforcement mechanisms for ocean treaties and conservation measures. Without clear accountability and monitoring, progress risks being symbolic rather than substantive. The Nice Ocean Action Plan embeds political will — but remains voluntary, lacking enforceable mechanisms. Without binding commitments, many nations may fall short as timelines evolve.

The Road Ahead: From Promise to Action

UNOC 2025 reflected a world increasingly aware of the ocean’s value and vulnerability —galvanizing a broader coalition of actors and accelerating global momentum for action.

UNOC‑3 demonstrated real gains: a treaty close to implementation, high-profile finance, expanding protection zones, and forward momentum on plastics and mining reform. But the real test now lies in converting these gains into on-the-water results.

To do this, we must:

• Fast-track ratification and legal entry for the High Seas Treaty.

• Transform the Nice Ocean Action Plan into actionable, monitored commitments.

• Expand 30×30 into enforceable no-take zones.

• Deliver a binding plastics treaty with production caps and producer safeguards.

• Secure a legal moratorium on deep-sea mining.

• Scale equitable financing and ensure open access for frontline communities.

• Invest in enforcement, transparency, and accountability to guarantee change is implemented and tracked.

Note from our Editorial Team: The 2025 UN Ocean Conference was a crucial milestone in global efforts to protect life below water (SDG 14). As it moves from high-level discussions to real-world implementation, sustained attention, funding, law, enforcement and political will will be key to success — and to grow hope into measurable change.