A diplomatic turning point despite gray areas

Change its dimension in the protection of oceans degraded by multiple human pressures: this was the central issue of the UN Conference (UNOC 3) which brought together, from June 9 to 13 in Nice (Alpes-Maritimes), representatives of 175 countries, international institutions, scientists and many actors in civil society. “The main acquisition of this conference is that it has raised the protection of the ocean to a level of attention comparable to that of the climate on the international scene. This is a diplomatic success for France, ”says Rémi Parmentier, director of the Varda Group consulting firm.

A bet that was far from won due to global tensions threatening all the multilateral processes and the absence of the United States, however the world’s first maritime area. “They did not give a proxy for the” condominium ” (What represents the ocean, common good of humanity, editor’s note) but we voted the work without them, “said Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, ambassador in charge of centers and maritime affairs, during the closing press conference.

Another major project, the implementation of the Treaty on the High Sea, which should allow the sharing of marine genetic resources and international cooperation concerning 64 % of the ocean located outside the courts of states.

According to France, UNOC 3 made it possible to bring together enough signatures and promises of signatures so that the number of sixty countries necessary for its ratification is reached during a ceremony at the UN, on September 23. This treaty should in particular pave the way for the creation on the high seas of protected marine areas (AMP), essential, according to scientists, to maintain a living and nourishing ocean.

Sword in water

This conference also aimed to increase the extent and level of requirement of these AMPs in the territorial waters of states, exclusive economic zones. Following several declarations by President Macron, strong announcements were expected from France to put a stop at the Chalute Fishing Destructive in a significant part of her protected marine areas. However, after an analysis of the cards provided by the government in its press kit, the Bloom association revealed that, unlike official announcements, almost no new space would be truly removed from the activity of the chalits after UNOC 3 …

A retropedering that has not been without consequences. “If the President of the Republic had announced a strong protection of French marine areas, this would have created a dynamic, regrets Rémi Parmentier. Conversely, these false announcements had the effect of a cold shower and blocked a process. According to the government, the commitments made at UNOC 3 by all countries increased the overall level of ocean protection by 8.3 % at the end of 2024 to more than 12 %. But it is less than half of the path to reach the objective of 30 % in 2030 … It remains to be hoped that the various coalitions of countries born in Nice (for the reduction of production of plastic or against the exploitation of the seabed) will bear fruit far beyond this meeting.