Ocean Conference Urges Action to Protect a Threatened Sea

The third U.N. Ocean Conference commenced, with Prince William of Britain among those urging nations to translate past promises into tangible ocean protection measures. The conference takes place as only a small percentage of the ocean is effectively shielded from destructive activities, falling far short of the agreed-upon goal to conserve a significant portion of both land and sea by 2030.

A key focus of this year's conference is the ratification of the High Seas Treaty. Adopted in 2023, this treaty would, for the first time, enable nations to establish marine protected areas in international waters, which encompass a vast portion of the ocean and are largely unregulated.

Prince William highlighted the pressures on fragile ecosystems and the people who depend on them, citing rising sea temperatures, plastic pollution, and overfishing. He emphasized the diminishing state of what was once an abundant resource, describing the challenge as unprecedented. He urged collective action to revive the ocean, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.

The current state of the high seas was described as lacking regulation, with countries engaging in fishing activities without constraints. The treaty aims to establish rules for these international waters. The ocean plays a crucial role in stabilizing Earth's climate and supporting life, generating a significant portion of the oxygen we breathe, absorbing a substantial amount of carbon dioxide emissions, and capturing the majority of excess heat caused by those emissions. Experts warn that without a healthy ocean, climate goals will remain unattainable.

The treaty requires ratification by 60 countries to come into effect. As of the conference's start, only a portion of countries had ratified it. Advocates hope the conference will generate enough momentum to reach this threshold, which would allow for the first official Oceans Conference of Parties.

The conference highlights the gap between marine protection declarations and actual conservation efforts. While some nations claim to have surpassed the 30% target for marine protection, environmental groups point out that only a small percentage of their waters are fully protected from harmful activities. This criticism is echoed across the continent, where a report found that despite designated protection areas, a small percentage of waters have management plans in place.

Industrial fishing lobbies continue to resist stricter protections, despite evidence that well-managed reserves benefit long-term fisheries. The conference will feature panels on various topics, including blue finance, sustainable fisheries, and plastic pollution. Discussions on deep-sea mining are expected, and small island states are likely to advocate for increased climate adaptation funding. The outcomes of these discussions will form the basis of the Nice Ocean Action Plan, a declaration of voluntary commitments to be adopted by consensus.