The Republic of Korea demonstrated exceptional leadership in hosting the 10th Our Ocean Conference (OOC10) in Busan, 28-30 April 2025, with over 3,000 participants, 80 side events, and 7 plenary sessions. Under the theme ‘Our Ocean, Our Action’, the conference aimed to promote global actions for a sustainable ocean.
During OOC10, COBSEA co-organized and moderated in several side events and plenary sessions, namely:
- Pre-Conference Workshop to the 10th Ocean Conference: “Regional Collaborative Network of MPAs the East Asian Seas (EAS)”
- Side event by Sustainable Ocean Initiative (SOI): “15 Years of Capacity-Building, Partnerships and Synergies to Achieve Global Goals and Targets for the Ocean”
- Side event on Climate Action: “Strategic and Convening roles and contributions of UNEP’s Regional Sea Conventions and Action Plans - addressing the Triple Planetary Crises in the Marine Environment”
- Side event on Marine Spatial Planning (MSP): “MSP for Growing Natural Capital: MSP and Co-Use Toward Building Blue Economies in Asia”
- Side event on Marine Protected Areas (MPA): “Collective Action in Implementing the 30x30 GBF targets: Establishing a Regional Collaborative Network of Marine Protected Areas in the East Asian Seas (EAS)”
- Side event by MOFA: “International Cooperation Seminar on Marine Plastic Pollution Response”
- Plenary session on Marine Plastic Pollution
Summary
Pre-Conference Workshop to the 10th Ocean Conference: Regional Collaborative Network of MPAs the East Asian Seas (EAS)
Prior to 10th Our Ocean Conference, COBSEA co-organized a Pre-conference workshop “Regional Collaborative Network of MPAs the East Asian Seas (EAS)” together with Blue Nature Alliance and the Swedish Agency Marine and Water Management (SwAM) on 26-27 April. Leaders from 9 regional organizations in the EAS region, namely ATSEA, ACB, COBSEA, CTI-CFF, IOC-WESTPAC, IUCN Asia-Pacific, NEAMPAN, PEMSEA, and SCS-SAP Project, actively participated to explore meaningful collaboration.
The results of the pre-conference workshop were shared at an OOC10 side event on 29 April entitled “Collective Action in Implementing the 30x30 GBF targets: Establishing a Regional Collaborative Network of Marine Protected Areas in the East Asian Seas (EAS). More information
Sustainable Ocean Initiative (SOI)
On 29 April, COBSEA was invited to join the side event of the Sustainable Ocean Initiative (SOI) entitled “15 Years of Capacity-Building, Partnerships and Synergies to Achieve Global Goals and Targets for the Ocean”. It aimed to explore the progress and achievements of SOI and identify capacity building needs to achieve SDG 14 and the goals of the Global Biodiversity Framework. COBSEA highlighted regional cooperation and partnerships related to KM-GBF, as part of the implementation of COBSEA’s Marine and Coastal Ecosystems Framework, in line with Global Biodiversity Framework. More information
This side event showcased the efforts of the UNEP Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans (RSCAPs) in strengthening coordination and collaboration for the sustainable governance of the marine environment. By highlighting best practices and the goal of addressing the triple planetary crisis: climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, the event brought together regional leaders and global experts for a high-level exchange of knowledge and experiences. More information
In collaboration with the World Bank, Korea Maritime Institute (KMI), and GEO Blue Planet, COBSEA co-organized a side event entitled “MSP for Growing Natural Capital: MSP and Co-Use Toward Building Blue Economies in Asia” on 29 April 2025. The side event aimed to highlight collaboration among organizations in the EAS region for MSP and to discuss integrating MSP with the co-location of compatible ocean uses for ensuring both ecological health and socio-economic benefits. The side event highlighted the MSP as a strategic tool to recover marine biodiversity by ensuring natural capital and science-based approaches, that are acceptable by local communities. More information
This side event brought 9 different organizations in the East Asian Seas region to discuss meaningful partnerships and collaboration towards 30x30 through the East Asian Seas Regional Collaborative Network of MPAs. The outcome of the Pre-Conference workshop (26-27 April) were presented during this side event, and approaches and strategies for the Regional Collaborative Network on MPAs in the East Asian Seas further discussed for official launch at the UNOC3. More information
International Cooperation Seminar on Marine Plastic Pollution Response
On 29 April, COBSEA joined this seminar, which was organized by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea. COBSEA presented its regional initiatives promoting plastic circularity in the East Asian Seas, with a focus on addressing abandoned, lost, and discarded fishing gear (ALDFG). The discussion explored how countries collaborate to tackle the transboundary challenge of sea-based plastic litter. COBSEA highlighted its efforts in coordinating national and regional action on ghost gear, aligning with global processes such as the Global Plastics Treaty. Other panelists included the World Bank, the Arafura and Timor Seas Ecosystem Action (ATSEA), and Pukyong National University. More information
OOC10 Plenary Session on Marine Plastic Pollution
Marine Pollution was one of the 7 plenary panels during the 10th Our Ocean Conference (OOC 2025). COBSEA was invited by the Republic of Korea to moderate Plenary Session 5 on Marine Pollution which comprised of 5 panelists from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Republic of Korea), Ocean Conservancy (USA), Alliance to End Plastic Waste (Singapore), Save a Fishie NPC (South Africa), and the University of Plymouth (UK).
Key messages included clear and legally binding targets, enhanced financial mechanisms, robust science-based policy guidance, sectoral responsibilities and collaboration, as well as international collaboration and trust-building. 8 voluntary commitments were made by governments and civil society at end of the Marine Pollution plenary, totaling nearly USD2 Billion. More information
OOC10 provided a strategic and crucial platform to build momentum for cooperation and implementation of Multilateral Environmental Agreements and to strengthen global commitments, promote science-based policy, mobilize concrete actions, and deepen international cooperation to tackle these intertwined challenges, in the lead up to the third UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France in June 2025.
At the end of the Conference, the OOC baton was officially passed on to Kenya, who will be hosting OOC11 in Mombasa in 2026.
