UNOC 3 in Nizza

by Sven Wille

SHARKPROJECT at UNOC 3 in Nice: Clear words, strong presence, but real action remains rare.

Premiere of ‘Tiger Eyes’, the award-winning film by Martina Trepczyk, an emotional wake-up call for the protection of sharks.
Our side event, ‘Female Voices on the Future of Sharks,’ featured powerful voices from Angola, Kenya, Madagascar, and Æarth.
Launch of the Global Coalition to Halt the Extinction of Threatened Sharks and Rays, a powerful new alliance that also supports Sharkproject.
Gallifrey Foundation workshops – small but intensive working groups for concrete next steps in shark conservation.

So what did UNOC 3 do for sharks?

Progress on the High Seas Treaty (BBNJ Agreement)! The treaty to protect biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) has been ratified by 51 of the 60 countries required. France has promised to meet the quota by September 2025. If the treaty comes into force, it could finally close regulatory gaps on the high seas. This is a crucial lever against overfishing and bycatch.
New marine protected areas! Progress or PR? Numerous new protected areas have been announced, including: All of French Polynesia (including 1.1 million km² of no-take zones) Samoa: 9 new MPAs UK: Ban on bottom trawling in 50% of existing protected areas Colombia: New MPA in the Caribbean (3,800 km²) Spain: 5 new protected areas. However, only about 8% of the oceans are currently effectively protected. The 30x30 target (30% protection by 2030) seems ambitious, but also unrealistic if protection only exists on paper.
More money for SDG14, finally! The EU announced €1 billion for marine and fisheries protection. A step in the right direction, but only if the money actually goes to effective projects.
Deep-sea mining: First brake, but no stop yet 37 countries are calling for a ‘precautionary pause’ on deep-sea mining. A necessary step, but a real moratorium is still lacking. The risks, toxic sediments, destroyed food webs and threats to deep-sea shark species have not been sufficiently researched scientifically.
Global Coalition for Sharks & Rays: working together to prevent extinction! A glimmer of hope: the new coalition against the extinction of endangered shark and ray species. Initiators such as France, CMS, IUCN, TRAFFIC and WWF want to: Preserve and connect habitats Strengthen legality and sustainability in CITES trade Establish a global task force for shark and ray species Sharkproject is a founding member and ready to breathe life into this alliance.
Stopping the flood of plastic – still too vague Plastic waste has been the subject of much discussion. The will to reach a global agreement on plastic is there, especially in the UK and Australia. But the petrochemical industry lobby is putting up massive resistance. Without binding reduction targets, this will remain a drop in the ocean.

What is sorely lacking

Illegal fishing was discussed, but not specifically addressed. Countries with large fleets are blocking effective measures, while many coastal states do not have the resources to monitor their own waters.

One ray of hope: Indonesia announced public vessel tracking via Global Fishing Watch. A step towards transparency.

Underwater noise the silent catastrophe remains (almost) unheard. Yet whales, dolphins and many sharks suffer from sonar, shipping traffic and raw material exploration. The High Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean was founded by 37 countries, led by Panama. Let’s hope it’s more than just a new logo.

Sharks: Systemically important and forgotten

Sharks are keystone species. They regulate the food chain, stabilise ecosystems and are essential for the health of the oceans. And yet over 35% of all shark and ray species are critically endangered, primarily due to overfishing.

Without sharks, there can be no healthy oceans. Without healthy oceans, there can be no stable future for humans and the climate. This was recognised at the UNOC, but the pressure to act is far greater than what is currently being implemented politically.

From hope to action – but now for real

UNOC 3 was full of announcements. However, many of them are repetitions of old promises, and some ‘new’ protective measures turn out to be rebranding of existing EU directives. NGOs such as Bloom are therefore considering legal action against France.

One thing is clear: civil society alone cannot bring about change. Governments must commit themselves honestly and consistently to marine conservation and stop hiding behind technical terms and vague commitments.

As Martina Trepczyk said in Nice: ‘We are done with hope. Now it’s time for action.’

The protection of the oceans cannot be viewed in isolation. It is part of a larger whole: the climate crisis, species extinction, environmental justice – everything is connected.

And sharks? They are at the centre of it all.