On the evening of the 13th in France, the sound of ship whistles echoed in the port of Nice, marking the conclusion of the five-day United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3). During the conference, the number of countries approving the High Seas Treaty rapidly increased. In an era marked by international turmoil and division, the significant treaty aimed at protecting marine biodiversity made a giant leap forward, offering rare good news.
During the conference, multiple countries made commitments to expand marine protected areas, restrict bottom trawling, and implement other major policies. Despite the hard negotiations on deep-sea mining and plastic restrictions in July and August, the ocean conference ended with temporary success.
Major Victory: Marine Protected Areas on the High Seas May Become a Reality
UNOC3 had 15,000 participants and attracted leaders from over 60 countries, nearly three times as many as the previous conference. The United States, which has pledged to accelerate deep-sea development, did not attend.
Promoting the High Seas Treaty was a major goal of this conference. For the treaty to come into force, 60 countries must complete the approval process for the BBNJ (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction) agreement, which would provide the legal foundation for establishing protected areas on the high seas. During the conference, 19 countries joined the approval process, raising the total number of countries to 51.
"This is a major victory," said Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, the French UN Ocean Conference envoy. Prominent anti-whaling activist Paul Watson also referred to the conference as a success in an interview with the Environmental Information Center.
D'Arvor acknowledged that without the U.S., marine efforts had become more challenging. "Although one country was absent, 92% of our partners were in Nice," he said. Costa Rica's foreign minister, Arnoldo André-Tinoco, one of the co-hosting countries, urged nations to accelerate the funding required for marine protection, adding, "Every commitment comes with responsibility."
Establishment of the World's Largest Marine Protected Area
The conference passed the Nice Ocean Action Plan, which includes political declarations and over 800 voluntary commitments from governments and the private sector, aimed at reducing deep-sea mining, marine plastic pollution, expanding marine protected areas, and combating illegal fishing.
Currently, marine protected areas (MPAs) cover about 8.3% of the oceans, but after the conference, that number has surged to 10%. Samoa officially designated 30% of its maritime territory as a protected area in May, covering an area of 36,000 square kilometers, roughly the size of Taiwan. On the first day of the conference, French Polynesia announced the creation of the world’s largest marine protected area, covering around 5 million square kilometers, and it will restrict deep-sea mining and bottom trawling.
Several countries made commitments during the conference. Spain announced the creation of five new marine protected areas, while the European Union pledged to invest 1 billion euros in marine protection and sustainable fishing practices. Germany announced the launch of a 100-million-euro underwater bomb removal project. Indonesia and the World Bank jointly launched Coral Bonds, with funds allocated to coral reef conservation.
Deep-Sea Mining and Plastic Restrictions to Follow
According to RFI, 20 more countries are expected to approve the High Seas Treaty soon, but challenges remain. The International Seabed Authority (ISA) will hold a meeting in July, but only 37 countries have expressed support for a precautionary pause or ban on deep-sea mining—far fewer than the 168 member countries.
Plastic negotiations will take center stage in August, as an extension of last year's deadlock during the fifth round of negotiations on the Global Plastic Treaty. While 97 countries, including the UK, supported strong plastic control measures at the Nice conference, environmental groups are calling for more concrete actions.
Many Pacific island nations have already banned bottom trawling, but countries like the European Union have yet to do so. France, one of the host countries, was criticized for not banning bottom trawling in its marine protected areas.
Financial and Political Challenges for Ocean Protection
The Ocean Conference is held every three years. At the closing ceremony, UN Ocean Special Envoy Peter Thomson raised his fist and shouted, "Hip hip hooray!" Greenpeace's U.S. Ocean Campaign Director, John Hocevar, admitted, "It (the conference) was better than expected."
The next Ocean Conference is set to be hosted by South Korea and Chile in 2028. However, if the number of countries approving the High Seas Treaty reaches the required threshold before September, the first UN Ocean Conference of Parties (Ocean COP) could take place in 2026, discussing the treaty's implementation, financing, and other issues. Watson pointed out that there is still a lack of economic and political momentum to sustain the system, but "the system also gives us (the citizens) the power to intervene, such as through legal actions."
Source: https://e-info.org.tw/node/241476
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