Dozens of research and exploration vessels from around the world set sail on Sunday right next to the French coastal city of Nice, launching the Third Ocean Conference and Mark World Ocean’s Day.
During the Ocean Wonders event, the vessels sailed across Bear de Angels, Bay of Angels in Nice, urging world leaders not to lose sight of their value in making decisions about the future of the planet.
Thousands of delegates, including heads of state, scientists and environmental advocates, are expected to confront the need to change their pledge this week to increase the threat to the ocean and protect it.
The United Nations calls it a global emergency and threat facing the global oceans in the face of rising temperatures, plastic pollution that suffocates marine life, and merciless overselling fish and other resources.
Only 2.7% of the world’s oceans are effectively protected from destructive activities such as industrial fisheries and deep sea mining. This is well below the global target of 30% by 2030.
Participating boats included Energy Observer, a catamaran covered in solar panels, the first vessel to orbit the Earth using only renewable energy. It generates hydrogen fuel onboard the ship via seawater electrolysis, providing a vision for zero-emission marine travel.
Other outstanding ships included Alfred Merlin of France, dedicated to underwater archaeology. OceanXplorer is a research yacht owned by a high-tech billionaire. WWF’s Blue Pandas are working to map and protect the last sea grass pastures of the Mediterranean Sea.
At the heart of the conference is the driving force behind ratifying the High Sea Treaty, which was adopted in 2023. If it becomes effective, the treaty will allow the country for the first time to establish marine protected areas in international waters that cover nearly two-thirds of the ocean and are barely governed.
“The High Sea Treaty is important to ensure that the biodiversity of the sea can be protected,” said Rebecca Hubbard, director of the High Seas Alliance. “We are in the midst of a biodiversity and climate crisis. We must protect the oceans to deal with these crises.”
But even in waters already designated as protected, enforcement is often scarce. Many countries, including France, have faced criticism from environmental groups for weak regulations and ongoing industrial activities within marine protected areas.
“There’s no ambition, there’s no speed there. The scale wasn’t there,” said Sílvia Tavares, project manager for the Oceano Azul Foundation. “A moment like UNOC is the key to changing that.”
Some countries are expected to announce new marine reserves or MPAs during meetings. It also prohibits bottom trolls and other destructive activities within existing MPA networks.
The “Ocean Wonders” fleet will remain nice, public and docked until the meeting ends on Friday.
Hammerschlag writes for the Associated Press.
