Pourquoi le prochain sommet sur l’océan est une chance unique de sauver nos mers, selon Tara Ocean
« We Will Only Have One Chance in Our Lifetime to Host an Ocean Conference in France, » Says Romain Troublé
Despite rising water temperatures, coastal erosion, ocean acidification, and the slowdown of deep-sea currents, the Tara Ocean Foundation remains resolutely optimistic as the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC 3) approaches.
A Historic Event for Ocean Protection
« For the first time in our lifetime, France will host an ocean conference, » enthuses Romain Troublé, General Director of Tara Ocean. After two relatively modest editions—one in New York in 2017 and another in Lisbon in 2022—the UN is finally holding its first high-level event on the subject this June in Nice. Co-organized by France and Costa Rica, this summit presents a unique opportunity to advance ocean governance.
Five Days of State Negotiations
The highlight of the event will be the five days of negotiations between states, from June 9 to 13. Tara Ocean will closely monitor these discussions, seeking to influence the final political declaration—much like during a COP summit. « Until now, there has been no systemic or holistic vision of the ocean. Governance is highly fragmented, divided between climate and biodiversity issues, with 18 different UN agencies involved, » explains Romain Troublé.
A Historic Moment, but Not a Revolution
While the upcoming UN Ocean Conference will be a historic event, it won’t be a revolutionary one. The final declaration—non-binding for states—is already largely drafted. The key challenge will be pushing its commitments as far as possible. The most crucial objective is to fully support Sustainable Development Goal 14, which calls to « conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development. »
Making Ocean Protection the Norm
Beyond the official negotiations, what happens around the conference might prove even more significant. Tara Ocean is particularly hopeful about the emergence of coalitions of countries committed to concrete actions. One of the foundation’s key proposals is the “Let’s Be Nice to the Ocean” initiative, launched with the consulting firm Varda Group. This initiative aims to establish ocean protection as the default standard—particularly for the high seas, deep-sea ecosystems, and the Southern Ocean (Antarctic waters).
« Those who seek to exploit ocean resources should be the ones to prove their actions are harmless to ecosystems—not the NGOs defending them. The burden of proof must be reversed! » explains André Abreu, Director of International Policies at Tara Ocean.
Legal Task Force & Deep-Sea Mining Moratorium
A task force of international legal experts will be launched on June 9 at Villa Arson. Its mission: draft a legal proposal that could be adopted at the next UN Ocean Conference in 2028. But beyond policy, this initiative aims to rally global support and keep the spotlight on the proposed moratorium on deep-sea mining, which could be threatened by the International Seabed Authority (ISA) next summer in Jamaica.
Ocean Surveillance & Marine Protected Areas
Tara Ocean is also advocating for a global ocean surveillance system, ensuring that no vessel can disappear from radar. Currently, some ships disable their Automatic Identification System (AIS) to engage in illegal fishing activities.
Additionally, the foundation supports:
- The International Panel for Ocean Sustainability (IPOS), a coalition of scientific experts dedicated to ocean research.
- The 30×30 goal: protecting 30% of the ocean as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) by 2030.
- The ratification of the High Seas Biodiversity Treaty (BBNJ) to safeguard marine life beyond national jurisdictions.
The upcoming conference in Nice may not be revolutionary, but it represents a crucial opportunity to strengthen global commitments to ocean protection.
Source: capital
