UN Secretary-General António Guterres opened the Third United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, calling on the world to stop plundering the oceans.

Highlighting threats like plastic pollution, overfishing, and rising sea temperatures, Guterres described the ocean as a “shared resource” that is currently failing under human pressure.

With more than 120 countries attending, the summit underlines the growing global focus on ocean health as crucial to climate stability and food security. French President Emmanuel Macron announced that the landmark High Seas Treaty, aimed at protecting two-thirds of the world’s oceans, is close to the required 60 ratifications to come into force.

Leaders from Costa Rica and Brazil also spoke, emphasizing the need to shift from exploitation to stewardship of marine ecosystems. Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves called for a moratorium on deep-sea mining until scientific risks are fully understood.

The conference aims to finalize agreements on plastic pollution, increase ocean conservation funding, and boost cooperation on sustainable ocean management. As Guterres put it, “What was lost in a generation can return in a generation,” pointing to hope for a restored and thriving ocean future.

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