Interview — Where does international ocean governance stand now following UNOC-3?

The 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC-3) was an important milestone for international ocean governance. Where do we stand today and what momentum has UNOC-3 generated?

UNOC-3 took place just after by the One Ocean Science Congress (OOSC), an international scientific conference dedicated to the ocean and its sustainability jointly organised by the CNRS and the Ifremer (French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea) which was a undisputed success. 2000 scientists from over 110 countries representing a wide range of disciplines attended and produced scientific recommendations that fed into the debates and commitments made by States at UNOC-3. This clearly shows scientists can participate in public debate whilst remaining firmly grounded in facts and the scientific method. Of course, taking an interest in the sustainability of the ocean involves addressing societal choices, but this mean partisan positions need to be taken.

The scientific dimension was also particularly evident during UNOC-3 itself as some of the scientists present at the OOSC stayed to take part in the many events organised during UNOC-3.

It was also the first time a scientific conference of this scale had been organised just before an intergovernmental conference on the ocean but the idea is actually starting to catch on. The annual 'Our Ocean Conference' created by the former US Secretary of State, John Kerry, will also be organising a scientific conference ahead of its 2026 edition in Kenya, having drawn direct inspiration from our model.

However, one of UNOC-3's most significant achievements is undoubtedly the acceleration of the ratification of the BBNJ agreement. Many observers believe that, without UNOC-3 and France’s robust commitment to placing this agreement at the core of the political agenda, it would probably not have been possible to bring this agreement into force as early as the actual date - January 17th 2026. This major breakthrough was made possible thanks in particular to the significant role played by French diplomacy and the involvement of science.

Finally, UNOC-3 has also served as a launch pad for several key initiatives like the IPOS (International Platform for Ocean Sustainability), which is currently finalising responses to requests from different States. For example, support is being provided to countries who want to adapt their national law to implement the BBNJ Agreement. A seat for the Coalition of Scientific Institutions is earmarked on the IPOS steering committee which is chaired by the CNRS through its Ocean Advisor.

UNOC-3 has generated strong momentum and discussions around UNOC-4 have already started. This conference will take place in 2028 and is to be co-hosted by South Korea and Chile. UNOC has now established itself as a key international ocean governance forum.

The CNRS recently published two position papers to inform discussions on the European Ocean Act. What is this about?

The European Ocean Act represents a very significant step forward and is to be welcomed. The Act marks the return of the ocean as a core European priority.

In practical terms, this legislation aims to strengthen the coherence of European policies relating to the ocean. In particular, it provides for the review and harmonisation of several existing directives to reinforce them. This is the case, for example, of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, which defines the indicators used to assess the ecological status of marine ecosystems. The European Ocean Act should enable these instruments to be updated and bolster the resources allocated to them.

As you say, the CNRS has indeed produced two position papers in this context. The first is devoted to the European Ocean Act itself, and the second to the European Ocean Observation Initiative aimed at providing the EU with robust governance based on long-term observations, European research infrastructure and open, traceable and harmonised data.

Beyond instruments of this kind, one of the Ocean Act's central objectives is to promote the integration of the ocean into all European public policies. The ocean must no longer be addressed solely in the framework of maritime policies and also needs to be taken into account in energy policies —the development of offshore wind power, for example — as well as in environmental, economic, industrial and climate policies.

For scientific institutions like the CNRS, this European framework also constitutes a catalyst for action. It means messages can be refined, scientific ambitions aligned with European priorities, and provides for enhanced structuring of ocean-related research.

A European Ocean Board is also being set up in the framework of this initiative. It will be an advisory board tasked with formulating opinions on European ocean policies and the CNRS has submitted an application to join. If this body is established and has robust powers, it could play a significant role in shaping European policies.

What are the major upcoming international ocean-related events?

There are several important deadlines coming up.

UNOC-3 has notably served as a springboard for the international Neptune mission, which is set to become a fully-fledged legal entity. The official launch is scheduled for June 8th 2026. The CNRS is involved, notably through its scientific council. The objective is for public-private partnerships to work on exploring the ocean, particularly the open sea and the deep sea. 

Another major event will be the first conference of the signatories of the BBNJ agreement, which is expected to take place at the United Nations in New York in late 2026 or early 2027. As we've discussed, this agreement represents a significant step forward for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in the high seas. It's worth noting that the high seas take up nearly half of the planet’s surface. In the current context marked by the fragility of multilateralism, the adoption and implementation of this agreement send a particularly important signal.

Some are already calling this conference the first ‘Ocean COP’. The challenge is to go beyond the formal mechanisms of the BBNJ agreement based on four pillars to encourage States to coordinate the various existing international instruments more effectively. Several organisations like the International Maritime Organisation or regional fisheries management organisations already have jurisdiction over the high seas. So now, the aim will be to ensure greater coherence between these different frameworks.

Which major emerging issues or topics are currently driving the most debate about the ocean?

One of the main sensitive issues is marine geoengineering. A dedicated event on ocean-based decarbonisation solutions organised by the CNRS, the Ocean & Climate Platform and the French Ministry of the Sea will address this theme in particular on March 18th at the Ministry. This issue is increasingly attracting attention as certain experimental programmes begin to emerge, sometimes driven by private stakeholders. However, currently the risks linked to these approaches remain inadequately assessed.

This is why there will be a dedicated round table on the scientific and political challenges of marine geoengineering. These include the potential risks, the need to bolster scientific research in this field, and the importance of particular vigilance about in situ experiments, which could produce cascading effects in marine ecosystems.

Discussions at this event will also focus on ocean-based decarbonisation opportunities. This field is generating high expectations and also many scientific questions.