By Eleni Poulios
The UN Ocean Conference 2025, which took place in Nice, France from the 9th to 13th of June, has been deemed a success after more countries ratified a key treaty to protect marine life and curb plastics and illegal fishing.
Almost 200 countries came together to discuss issues affecting the oceans as seas all over the world are being confronted with various issues ranging from plastic pollution to climate change.
Sir David Attenborough, one of the world’s most famous biologists and natural historians, made a statement saying that he was “appalled” by damage caused through specific fishing methods and hoping for leaders attending the conference to realise “how much the oceans matter to all of us”.
High Seas Treaty
A key aim of this year’s conference was to get the High Seas Treaty, which aims to protect marine life, ratified by 60 countries in order to bring it into force.
The agreement was finalised two years ago and has already converted 30% of the world’s oceans into protected areas.
During the conference, 50 countries ratified the treaty, and many more have promised to do so by the end of this year.
The progress made on these pressing matters has made many stakeholders more confident about different governments being able to work together.
Tony Long, the chief executive officer of Global Fishing Watch said: “UNOC has given us a glimmer of hope that the challenges facing our ocean are being seen and will be tackled.
“As we edge closer to the High Seas Treaty coming into force, governments need to double down – using both transparency and new technologies – to safeguard the ocean.”
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Hope that more progress can be made
Before this year’s conference, there was little hope that these matters would be solved.
In 2024, negotiations on plastics or climate either resulted in nothing or ended with very little progress.
As a result, the 2025 conference did not aim to establish new treaties, but rather to make progress on those previously discussed.
This comes after participating countries had agreed, in 2022, to protect 30% of land and sea by the year 2030 in order to protect biodiversity.
Unfortunately, this is not easy to achieve when it comes to international waters as no one nation is in control – hence why the agreement was set for 30% of the oceans.
Looking at the outcome of the UN Ocean Conference 2025, it seems fair to say that key issues were taken more seriously and hopefully everyone who has agreed to protect marine life will do so to ensure a better and cleaner future for our oceans.
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