From 9 to 13 June 2025, all eyes turned to UNOC 3, the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference held in Nice, France. IFFO was amongst the delegates.
The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) released the most detailed report ever on the state of marine fish stocks. The data is based on 2,570 fish stocks and shows that 64.5% of the stocks are fished sustainably. When weighted by total production, FAO said 77.2% of fisheries landings come from biologically sustainable stocks. Some of the world’s fisheries are recovering, thanks to strong, science-based management. “Now’s the time to continue working together and scale up efforts to ensure 100% of fisheries are effectively managed” Manuel Barange, Assistant Director General of FAO, commented.
The United Nations’ Special Envoy for Oceans, Peter Thomson, highlighted the recent positive contribution of China, which signed the Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA) in April 2025, showing willingness to strengthen fisheries management.
The High Seas Treaty, also known as "BBNJ" (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction), is expected to come into force in early 2026. Its aim is to protect the oceans beyond national territorial waters, which represent 64% of marine areas. The treaty will enable fair sharing of marine biological resources among all nations. Already signed by 136 countries, the treaty must be ratified by 60 of them to enter into force. As of 11 June 2025, following Indonesia and Senegal’s ratification, 51 countries had done so, leaving nine more required.
The UNOC was also an opportunity to enable discussion of Regional Fisheries Bodies (RFBs) challenges and strengthen joint work, especially on control and management measures, as well as the 12 million tonnes (or a third of all) plastic waste that ends up in the environment, carried by rivers into the ocean.
The nutritional value of blue food is well recognised amongst UNOC’s delegates, but there is a need to raise awareness amongst consumers globally. This is the aim of a recent initiative launched by the International Coalition of Fisheries Associations (ICFA).
Let’s carry this momentum forward, one of the next steps being the 2nd UN Food Systems Summit Stocktake (UNFSS+4) which will take place from July 27–29, 2025, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.