The third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) concluded with the adoption of the Nice Ocean Action Plan—a two-part outcome comprising a new political declaration titled “Our ocean, our future: united for urgent action” and over 800 voluntary commitments by countries, UN agencies, scientists, and civil society.
While the declaration includes welcome references to sustainable fisheries and marine plastic pollution, it falls short of what’s needed to safeguard marine life. Opportunities to align conservation with animal welfare remain under-recognised. However, the array of commitments and ratifications provides a sense of positive momentum across a range of countries. Below, we unpack the key takeaways for marine animals: what was included, what was missing, and what’s next.
What was included in the UNOC3 Political Declaration
1. Tackling ghost gear
The declaration encourages international organisations, particularly the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), to address the issue of abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear, often called “ghost gear,” and its impact on habitats and marine species. This is one of the deadliest forms of marine plastic pollution, entangling and killing countless animals while continuing to “fish” indiscriminately long after being lost at sea.
2. Support for 30×30 targets
The declaration reaffirms commitments to the 30×30 targets under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, aiming to protect 30% of marine and coastal areas by 2030. With recent assessments showing that only about 8.3% of the ocean is currently designated as a marine protected area, and just 2.8% is considered effectively protected, this commitment matters—particularly for the many marine species that remain vulnerable to overfishing, habitat degradation, and climate change in areas with little or no protection.
3. High Seas Treaty mention
The declaration calls on countries to “consider” ratifying the High Seas Treaty (BBNJ Agreement), adopted by UN Member States at the UN in 2023, to strengthen the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity beyond national jurisdictions. If effectively implemented, the treaty could provide vital protections for marine animals in the two-thirds of the ocean that currently lack regulation. As of the end of the conference, fifty countries had ratified the BBNJ agreement, with 17 more reportedly underway—bringing it close to the 60 needed for entry into force, possibly by January 2026.
What was missing in the UNOC3 Political Declaration
1. No strong stance on harmful fishing practices
The declaration calls for “decisive and collective action to ensure sustainable fisheries and aquaculture systems” and acknowledges challenges such as overfishing and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. However, while these references are welcome, they are not backed by concrete commitments to tackle these issues. The declaration also stops short of detailing the full range of harmful fishing practices—such as bottom trawling, high bycatch levels, and non-selective gear—that continue to degrade ocean ecosystems and threaten marine animals. Greater commitment to phasing out these damaging practices is needed to achieve truly sustainable fisheries. An example of the kind of leadership required is that of the Government of Ghana, which announced that it will ban bottom trawling and all industrial fishing from its waters, and the United Kingdom, which pledged during the conference to ban bottom trawling in 41 Marine Protected Areas.
Additionally, aquatic animal welfare considerations were notably absent throughout the declaration. For aquatic species, these can take the form of more humane catch and slaughter techniques, as well as fishing methods that reduce bycatch and suffering. The declaration also fails to address the need to reduce exploitation pressure through shifts in consumption patterns. This was a missed opportunity to align ocean governance with ethical standards and the growing recognition that sentient marine animals deserve protection, not only for ecosystem health, but for their own sake.
2. Silence on marine animals’ role in climate action
Despite growing scientific consensus, as highlighted recently in the COP16 Biodiversity and Climate Decision, the declaration fails to recognise the role of marine species in climate mitigation. Fish, krill, sharks, and other species are vital in carbon sequestration and ecosystem regulation. Omitting them from climate discussions risks undermining the very strategies that could help both oceans and the climate recover. Integrating marine animal protection into climate solutions should be a cornerstone of global ocean governance moving forward.
Encouragingly, some governments are beginning to act on the ecological importance of marine predators. During the conference, a group of nine countries joined the Global Coalition to Halt the Extinction of Threatened Sharks and Rays. Predators like sharks are not only vital to marine biodiversity but also to carbon cycling and ocean resilience, making their protection also a climate-relevant priority.
3. No precautionary stance on deep-sea mining
While the declaration welcomes the International Seabed Authority’s progress in developing rules for deep-sea mineral exploitation and environmental protection, it stops short of calling for a precautionary approach or moratorium on deep-sea mining. This is despite growing scientific consensus warning of the potentially irreversible damage it could cause, including species extinctions and the disruption of fragile deep-sea ecosystems.
Encouragingly, during the Conference, the number of countries calling for a deep-sea mining pause or a moratorium grew to 37, with 23 issuing a joint statement to that effect.
4. Underwater noise pollution: Minimally addressed
The declaration acknowledges underwater radiated noise from ships and supports the work of the International Maritime Organization to address it—an important step, given that shipping is the leading source of ocean noise pollution. It does, however, overlook other harmful sources such as seismic surveys and military sonar, which are also known to cause stress, disorientation, hearing loss, and even death in marine animals. By omitting these threats, the declaration misses a critical opportunity to strengthen protections for marine species from one of the most pervasive and poorly regulated forms of pollution in the ocean.
Notably, 37 countries joined the High Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean during UNOC, signalling growing recognition of the need to address underwater noise pollution. The coalition’s call for stronger regulation, soundscape protection, and practical mitigation measures represents meaningful progress that future global agreements should build on.
Whats next
Despite some positive references in the UNOC3 political declaration, it does not go far enough to reflect the urgency of action needed to address human-driven threats to marine animals and our oceans or align conservation and animal welfare objectives.
Marine species are not only vulnerable—they are vital allies in maintaining ocean and planetary health. From sequestering carbon to fueling food webs, they are integral to our climate future. Marine animals are not just part of the ecosystem—they help sustain it.
Still, at UNOC3, governments, UN agencies, and civil society showed greater ambition beyond the declaration through new commitments and the growing number of ratifications of the BBNJ agreement. We urge governments to ride this wave in ambition to advance stronger protections through national action plans, regional agreements, and implementation of existing treaties.
The upcoming review of SDG 14 at the High-Level Political Forum in July offers another chance to spotlight the need to integrate animal welfare into ocean governance. The future of our oceans—and our climate—depends on it.
Did you miss our WFA UNOC Debrief session?
In our first WFA Debrief session, together with our members Aquatic Life Institute and Whale and Dolphin Conservation, we unpacked the “Nice Ocean Action Plan” and assessed whether the UN Ocean Conference lived up to its ambition. We explored how aquatic animals featured in the negotiations, what was left out, and what comes next at the intersection of animal welfare, climate, and ocean health.
