The UN Ocean Conference 2025 (UNOC3)

The third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3), was co-chaired by the governments of France and Costa Rica, and took place in Nice from 9-13 June 2025. The theme “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean,” gave UNOC3 a platform to build upon the previous UN Ocean Conferences held in New York (2017) and Lisbon (2022). This pivotal gathering offered a multilateral platform for governments, civil society, and all ocean stakeholders to unite in addressing the urgent issues facing our ocean, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14) to conserve and sustainably use marine resources.

RISE UP at UNOC3: Civil Society Rising for a Just and Living Ocean

RISE UP brought the power of civil society, Indigenous Peoples, small-scale fishers, and ocean defenders to the global stage, amplifying calls for a just, inclusive, and rights-based ocean agenda through events in the Green Zone (the space for the public to engage in UNOC3).

Mobilizing Civil Society

RISE UP kicked off the week by convening partners and allies to align priorities and strategies during the Civil Society Working Session, followed by participating in the Blue March. The evening Blue Hour Drinks strengthened collaboration and connection among ocean advocates, and represented a powerful moment of unity through art and activism. Brianna Fruean, the climate change and environmental advocate from Samoa, shared stories of her connection to the Ocean from a Pacific perspective.

Centering People and Rights

Throughout the conference, RISE UP elevated the voices of Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and small-scale fishers.

People of the Ocean celebrated generations of traditional knowledge and cultural heritage.
Human Rights and the Ocean Environment underscored that a healthy ocean is essential to human dignity and justice.

From Shore to Summit: Ocean Governance for All

Civil society leaders brought grassroots priorities directly into policy spaces, urging inclusive, community-informed ocean governance. Events like From Shore to Summit and Bridging Science and Policy for Coral Reef Conservation highlighted the need for collaboration between science, policy, and local action.

Defending the Defenders

In Advancing Equity in Small-Scale Fisheries, RISE UP partners championed preferential access and co-management solutions in Africa and Asia. The Call to Action to Support and Safeguard Ocean Defenders united voices from around the world to protect those on the frontlines of ocean conservation.

Turning Knowledge into Action

RISE UP also spotlighted data justice, sustainable fisheries, and youth leadership through events such as All Things Data, Small-Scale Fishers: At the Center of Ocean Governance, and Enhancing Ocean Literacy and Empowering Youth Leadership to Protect the Deep Sea. The week closed with powerful film screenings showcasing stories of resistance and hope.

Together for the Ocean

Across UNOC3, RISE UP reaffirmed its commitment to building solidarity, equity, and accountability in global ocean governance. By standing with communities, defending human rights, and advancing inclusive ocean action, civil society is showing what it means to truly protect the ocean, protect life.

Key Highlights from UNOC3

Community-driven frameworks: RISE UP convened members and allies to co-create an Ocean-Climate Justice Framework with six priorities—knowledge equity, accountable governance, bridging science and traditional wisdom, storytelling, just finance, and stronger action.
Civil society leadership: 89 organizations from 28 countries launched a powerful Policy Statement calling for:
- Inclusive marine governance
- A moratorium on deep-sea mining
- Respect for both scientific and traditional knowledge
Frontline leadership: Events like People of the Ocean showcased Indigenous stewardship, Pacific-led initiatives, and fisher-led calls for justice.
Small-scale fisheries: Leaders demanded inclusion in global goals like 30×30. Wins included the Maldives’ national plan for SSF Guidelines and Ghana doubling its inshore exclusion zone.
Youth leadership: Young ocean defenders launched the Coalition of Emerging Ocean Leaders (CEOL) and pushed urgent action on deep-sea mining, inclusion, and finance.
Government commitments: 50 countries ratified the High Seas Treaty, French Polynesia announced the world’s largest MPA, and major funding pledges were made for reefs, biodiversity, and pollution reduction.

Read the full article to explore how communities shaped UNOC3.

Read the Civil Society Statement facilitated by RISE UP, Oceano Azul Foundation and Flora & Fauna

Meet the members videos from UNOC3: Alifereti Tawake and Jihyun Lee.

The Road Ahead

UNOC3 showed that just and inclusive ocean governance depends on the people closest to the sea. Their knowledge, rights, and leadership are essential for lasting solutions. As we now head towards COP30 in Brazil all eyes are on Belem as the location to bring the Ocean to the forefront of Climate talks, and create strong, societal-led governance for the Ocean and our Planet.