Protection of the oceans: UN conference calls for drastic measures!

Protection of the oceans: UN conference calls for drastic measures!

Frankreich, Costa Rica - The importance of marine ecosystems is increasingly becoming the focus of the international community. Especially today, on June 10, 2025, the third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC-3) begins, which is organized in France and Costa Rica. The aim of this conference is to discuss measures to protect and sustainably use the oceans and to give impulses for the designation of marine protection areas. The results are to be recorded in an action plan that offers the framework for future political decisions. This is reported by the FAZ

The challenges for the oceans are varied: climate change, plastic pollution and overfishing are strongly increasing the marine ecosystems. As part of the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), the goal was set to protect 30 % of the national and sea area by 2030. However, only 8.4 % of the naval and coastal areas are under protection. In order to achieve the ambitious 30 × 30 goal, about 78.3 million square kilometers must be shown as protected areas by 2030, such as the Science Media Center .

The need for strong protective measures

The protection of existing marine protection areas and effective regulation of use are crucial for biodiversity protection. However, studies show that many of these areas are only slightly protected in the EU waters and allow economic activities. Fishing rates in fishing are systematically set too high, which further endangers the stocks. Therefore, experts are calling for an increased measure to preserve marine diversity and the associated ecosystem services.

The UNOC-3 offers a platform to meet these challenges and develop strategies that go beyond the existing commitment. As part of the conference, the Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14) is also discussed for the preservation and sustainable use of the oceans, which is scheduled to support international cooperation in the coming years. According to the Federal Environment Ministry It is crucial to define concrete goals and measures in order to improve the condition of the sea and to protect the biodiversity.