The Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) was co-organized by France and Costa Rica from 9 to 13 June 2025 in Nice, France. Ten years after COP21 and the Paris Agreement, UNOC3 brought together 175 UN Member States, 64 Heads of State and Government, 28 Heads of UN, intergovernmental and international organizations, 115 ministers, and 12,000 Delegates. UNOC3 focused on “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean” and support implementation for SDG Goal 14, with three main priorities. For more information: https://unocnice2025.org/en/
During the UNOC3, COBSEA co-organized and actively participated in several side events and sessions, namely:
- Side event: “Scaling Collective Action for 30x30: The East Asian Seas Regional Collaborative Network of MPAs” (Part 1: 9 June, Part 2: 13 June)
- Side event: Global MPA Capacity Think Tank Launch & Global MPA Community of Practice workshop & Global Network of MPA Manager Networks Members Meeting (8,9 June)
- Pre-event: Intersessional Workshop of the Sustainable Ocean Initiative Global Dialogue with Regional Seas Organizations and Regional Fishery Bodies (7-8 June)
- Side Event: Partnering for Ocean Sustainability and SDG 14: Celebrating 30 years of Large Marine Ecosystems (LME) Cooperation (10 June)
- Parallel event: The 24th Global Meeting of the Regional Seas Programme (11 June)
- Side Event: Uniting Regional Governance for a Resilient 30x30 Future (12 June)
- Ocean Action Panel 8: Promoting and supporting all forms of cooperation, especially at the regional and sub regional level (12 June)
1. Side Event: “Scaling Collective Action for 30x30: The East Asian Seas Regional Collaborative Network of MPAs”
PART 1: Joint action, knowledge sharing, and capacity building
• When: 9 June 2025, 14h00 - 15h00 (CET)
• Where: #ForCoral Pavilion - Auditorium, La Baleine, Palais des Expositions, Nice, France
"The East Asian Seas Regional Collaborative Network of MPAs" was collectively launched by nine different regional organizations/initiatives in the region.
At PART 1, regional partners reiterated their commitment to actively participating in this Network and identified ways forward to scale collective action. The status of conservation in the East Asian Seas and the journey of this Network were presented, followed by discussions on understanding respective roles and contributions, goals, expected outcomes, and challenges and approaches for collaboration. More information
PART 2: Reflections and synergies, fostering strategic partnerships, and enhancing regional collaboration
• When: 13 June 2025, 12h45 - 13h30 (CET)
• Where: Room Orca, La Baleine, Palais des Expositions, Nice, France
At PART 2, different organizations such as ADB, GFCR, UNEP, Barcelona Convention, UNDP, SwAM, Global Network of MPA Networks, and Ocean Innovation Challenge provided recommendations and potential future partnerships to effectively advance this regional MPA Network.
OUTCOMES from two Side Events
- Launch of the “East Asian Seas Regional Collaborative Network of MPAs”
- Exchanged best practices, tools, learnings and experiences and capacity building
- Discussed approaches for transboundary cooperation for large marine protected areas and seascape governance.
- Concrete follow-up activities: 1) EAS mapping exercise with seascape approach; 2) OECM regional workshop; and 3) resource mobilization - towards regional marine conservation efforts.
🔗 One-pager Summary Report_UNOC3_The East Asian Seas Regional Collaborative Network of MPAs
2. Side Event: Global MPA Capacity Think Tank Launch & Global MPA Community of Practice workshop & Global Network of MPA Manager Networks Members Meeting
During UNOC3, COBSEA joined the Launch Event of the Global MPA Capacity Think Tank "Scaling Global MPA Capacity to Reach 30x30 Initiative" and the Global MPA Community of Practice workshop on 8 June organized by Blue Nature Alliance. On 9 June, at the Global Network of MPA Manager Networks Members Meeting, COBSEA presented the "East Asian Seas Regional Collaborative Network of MPAs" to other MPA practitioners from other regions to showcase joint initiatives in the East Asian Seas region, to exchange learning from experiences across the region, and to connect Regional collaborative Network to Global Network. More information
3. Pre Event: Intersessional Workshop of the Sustainable Ocean Initiative Global Dialogue with Regional Seas Organizations and Regional Fishery Bodies
From 7 to 8 June 2025, COBSEA participated the Intersessional Workshop of the Sustainable Ocean Initiative Global Dialogue with Regional Seas Organizations and Regional Fishery Bodies will be held in Théoule-sur-mer. Together with Bay of Bengal Programme (BOBP), Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC), and Partnership in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA), COBSEA co-presented “Updates on the Regional cooperation in the East, South, and Southeast Asia”. COBSEA highlighted several ongoing regional joint initiatives on The East Asian Seas Regional Collaborative Network of MPAs, First Asian Regional Dialogue on Seagrass and Dugong Conservation, OECM workshop, Coral Reef Monitoring workshop. More information
4. Side Event: Partnering for Ocean Sustainability and SDG 14: Celebrating 30 years of Large Marine Ecosystems (LME) Cooperation
On 10 June, COBSEA participated the side event as a panelist on “Celebrating 30 years of Large Marine Ecosystem (LME) Cooperation” co-organized by GEF IW:LEARN, UNESCO-IOC, and IMO. The session highlighted key achievements in advancing Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water) and transboundary governance, regional partnerships, and ecosystem-based ocean management. Through the panel discussion, real-world case studies from Africa, Asia, and Latin America shared to discuss how LME projects have successfully translated global ocean commitments into regionally coordinated, locally impactful actions. COBSEA highlighted the regional efforts on harmonized marine litter monitoring and transboundary initiatives for marine and coastal ecosystems through the East Asian Seas Regional Collaborative Network of MPAs and the UNEP/GEF/UNOPS SCS SAP project. More information
5. The 24th Global Meeting of the Regional Seas Programme
On 11 June, COBSEA joined the 24th Global Meeting of the Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans (RSCAPs) held in Nice, France. The meeting was attended by UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen, H.E. Ms. Agnès Pannier-Runacher, French Minister for Ecological Transition, and representatives from MEAs, UN bodies, and all 18 Regional Seas programmes. Delegates reviewed the implementation of the Regional Seas Strategic Directions 2022–2025 and formally adopted the Strategic Directions 2026–2029. Key issues discussed included contributions of the RSCAPs to the global ocean agenda, financing and partnerships, and the Vision and Roadmap toward achieving the SDG 14, KM-GBF Target 3 on 30x30 MPAs/OECMs. More information
6. Side Event: Uniting Regional Governance for a Resilient Ocean Future 30x30
On 12 June, COBSEA was invited to this Blue Zone side event by the Technical Secretariat of the Caribbean Biological Corridor (CBC) and Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), which was organized by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (CITMA) of Cuba, and co-hosted by the Governments of Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Jamaica, in collaboration with the Technical and Executive Secretariats of the Caribbean Biological Corridor (CBC), the Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor (CMAR), the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), and WCS. COBSEA highlighted approaches from the East Asian Seas region in addressing SDG14, particularly focusing on marine pollution and marine litter.
7. Ocean Action Panel 8: Promoting and supporting all forms of cooperation, especially at the regional and sub regional level
On 12 June, COBSEA supported Ocean Action Panel 8 by taking notes and providing a summary. Tatjana Hema, Coordinator of the Barcelona Convention, highlighted the role of the Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans in coordinating action and collaboration on technical matters, addressing common needs and cross-cutting challenges through integrated solutions and holistic approaches, and referred to the 24th Meeeting of the Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans which was held in Nice on 11 June. She stressed that the Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans enable cooperation and collaboration within and between regions, supporting members to implement MEAs and global strategies, as well as enabling the sharing of best practices and lessons learned between regions. The session highlighted the importance of strong regional seas mechanisms for durable multilateral cooperation and implementation of global agreements and goals, allowing for regionally-tailored approaches and solutions.
