Ocean Conference Closes With Push for High Seas Treaty, Mining Pause

The Third UN Ocean Conference closed in Nice with no votes but a dense to-do list. Co-chairs of 10 thematic Action Sessions spent more than an hour of the closing plenary pressing governments to ratify the high seas treaty, expand marine protected areas and pause deep-sea mining. Scientists and financiers added urgency and money: a call to phase out fossil fuels and €9 billion in new blue finance commitments.

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• Ten Action Sessions deliver roadmap: BBNJ ratification, new marine protected areas, a voluntary deep-sea mining moratorium
• Scientists issue three imperatives: phase out fossil fuels, protect 30% of oceans, apply precaution to deep-sea mining
• €9 billion in new blue finance pledged, plus a coalition of 20 investment banks
• SDG 14 funding gap: $1.5 billion invested annually versus $175 billion needed
• Nice's mayor calls UNOC3 a "before and after" moment after a 450-mayor coalition forms

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Ten Roundtables, One Roadmap

The Action Sessions were the core of the closing plenary. Co-chairs reported recommendations from 10 roundtables that will guide national work between now and the next ocean conference.

Why it matters: These reports are not binding. They do signal where diplomatic momentum is building, especially on deep-sea mining and the high seas treaty, known as BBNJ.

The basics: BBNJ is the treaty on biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction, which covers the high seas. It cannot take effect until 60 states ratify it.

Where things stand:

• Ecosystems: Action Session 1, co-chaired by Brazil and Greece, produced the sharpest outcome. Multiple countries announced new marine protected areas, and participants called for a voluntary moratorium on deep-sea mining. Participants also cited AI and emerging technologies as tools for monitoring ocean health and fighting illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
• International law: Action Session 10, co-chaired by New Zealand and Chile's Special Ocean Envoy Heraldo Muñoz, drew 27 participants. They urged rapid BBNJ ratification. They welcomed the International Maritime Organization's target of net-zero shipping emissions by 2050. They also acknowledged the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea's advisory opinion on states' climate obligations.
• Pollution: Action Session 4, co-chaired by Germany and Mauritania, said the SDG 14 target year of 2025 has passed with insufficient progress. Single-use items make up more than 40% of global plastic production. Small island developing states (SIDS) contribute less than 1% of plastic pollution yet suffer heavily from it.
• Fisheries and food: Sessions 5 and 9, co-chaired by Viet Nam and Croatia and by the Republic of Korea and Tanzania, centered on small-scale fishers and on women in post-harvest processing. They called for implementing the WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement and for adding aquatic food to school nutrition programs.
• Regional and economic tracks: Morocco and Italy pressed regional cooperation, citing the Barcelona Convention and the Arctic Council as models. Palau and Canada urged a "regenerative" ocean economy with reformed harmful subsidies and greener ports. Indonesia and Belgium called for integrated ocean, climate and biodiversity policy across the UN climate convention (UNFCCC), BBNJ and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

The other side: The consensus had limits. The law session backed the International Seabed Authority's continued work on mining exploitation rules, with the caveat that marine protection comes first. That position is softer than an outright moratorium. Participants in the pollution session called for "realism" about recycling and said companies should have to show their products cause no harm. Regional co-chairs warned that progress on global agreements is too slow.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: No votes were taken. SIDS, least developed countries and landlocked states gained repeated calls for capacity building and technology transfer. Small-scale fishers, women and Indigenous peoples were named as central to governance. Commercial mining interests face mounting diplomatic pressure.

What's next: The ratification count toward 60 will determine whether BBNJ becomes operational. Plastics treaty negotiations remain unfinished.

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Scientists: Act Now Where Science Is Clear

The rapporteur for the One Ocean Science Conference, co-chaired by Monaco, delivered a blunt message. Over 1,000 scientists concluded that the ocean's life-support functions are eroding irreversibly.

Why it matters: The scientists' position on deep-sea mining and fossil fuels directly challenges industry interests. It also sets the evidentiary baseline for future treaty talks.

Where things stand: The rapporteur laid out three imperatives.

• Act now: Phase out the fossil fuels driving ocean warming, acidification and sea-level rise. Protect at least 30% of oceans, including the high seas. End IUU fishing.
• Know before acting irreversibly: Apply the precautionary principle, especially to deep-sea mining. Invest in ocean mapping, modeling and sustained observation.
• Turn knowledge into justice: Align public and private finance with restoration. Safeguard Indigenous knowledge systems and rights, and make ocean literacy mainstream.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Scientists pledged open, unrestricted data sharing. In return, they asked governments to protect the freedom, safety and funding of science, calling those pillars of effective multilateralism.

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Blue Finance Moves From Dream to Deal Flow

Rapporteur Pascal Lamy, presenting the conclusions of the Blue Economy and Finance Forum co-hosted by Monaco, said blue finance is no longer just a dream but a reality.

Where things stand: The forum reported €25 billion in blue investments in recent years from multilateral, private, public and philanthropic sources. It also reported €9 billion in new commitments over the next five years, including €1 billion by 2025. A coalition of 20 investment banks formed, along with alliances in tourism. €100 billion in South-South financing was approved in April for the coming decade.

Why it matters: SDG 14, the UN's ocean goal, remains the least-funded sustainable development goal. Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jamaica, said annual global investment of $1.5 billion falls far short of the $175 billion needed.

The other side: Even the new pledges cover a small share of that gap. Speakers stressed that SIDS represent 30% of ocean issues.

What's next: The forum recommended five steps:

• Ratify BBNJ and the Kunming-Montreal biodiversity framework
• Adopt ocean taxonomies and investment protocols
• Redirect harmful subsidies
• Develop new capital instruments, such as blue bonds
• Expand other innovative financing tools

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Nice Claims a Turning Point

Christian Estrosi, Mayor of Nice, opened the plenary by declaring that people will speak of a time before Nice and after Nice in ocean policy.

Where things stand: Estrosi called the gathering the largest ever of SIDS leaders. He highlighted a coalition of 450 coastal mayors. He praised Olivier Poivre d'Arvor, Special Envoy, who described the pre-conference coalition-building as unprecedented. Estrosi also pointed to three related events: the One Ocean Science Conference, which began June 3 with about 3,000 scientists; the Monaco co-hosted finance forum; and the Ocean Resilience Summit on June 7.

Why it matters: City leaders are positioning themselves as ocean actors alongside national governments. Estrosi conceded that the oceans have not yet been saved, but credited participants with real progress.

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Minor Items

• FAO committed $275 million to support sustainable fisheries.
• European Investment Bank committed €15 billion over three years in ocean-related financing.
• Finland announced freshwater protection programs for 2025-2028 under a source-to-sea approach.
• Action Session 1 heard only seven speakers; 22 others could not speak due to time limits.

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Looking Ahead

The Action Session outcomes serve as a working roadmap toward UNOC4 in 2028. The clearest benchmark to watch is whether BBNJ reaches 60 ratifications.