Turning the Tide: A New Era for Ocean Conservation Emerges in Nice
This article is written by Lasse Gustavsson , President and CEO of Ocean Wise following the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference.
The United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, France, was more than a global convening—it was a moment of clarity and collective resolve. As the sun dipped below the horizon on the French Riviera, delegates gathered on the beach to watch Sir David Attenborough’s The Ocean. The film’s message was simple yet profound: “If we save the ocean, we save the world.” Against the backdrop of the Mediterranean, this message resonated deeply, reminding us that the ocean is not just a resource—it is our shared life support system.
Ocean Wise was proud to be part of this pivotal moment. One of the most dynamic sessions was the discussion on “Nature and People Friendly Harbors,” hosted by the Friends of Ocean Action. While many participants brought forward ideas to make harbors safer for people, Ocean Wise stood out as the only organization offering practical, scalable solutions for nature-friendly harbors. Our Whale Report Alert System (WRAS), which helps prevent ship strikes on whales, is already making a measurable impact. But harbors face a range of ecological pressures—from noise pollution to habitat degradation—that demand broader, integrated solutions.
The launch of oceanreturns.com marked another milestone. This new platform is designed to help investors and funders shift from supporting isolated, single-point solutions to embracing holistic, systems-based strategies. It’s a much-needed evolution in how we finance ocean health—one that aligns capital with long-term ecological resilience.
Equally inspiring was the debut of bluecorridors.org, a global initiative dedicated to protecting whale migration routes. By combining innovative visualizations with co-designed conservation strategies, Blue Corridors complements our work with WRAS and underscores the importance of connectivity in marine ecosystems.
Another standout moment was “The Startup Reef” a curated showcase of ocean solutions hosted by Katapult, Builders Vision, SUEZ, Salesforce and others. The Reef was truly a catalyst for real-world impact: bridging the gap between innovation and implementation.
Equally powerful was our Ocean Wise-hosted side event “Advancing Indigenous Stewardship of Fisheries for a Sustainable Ocean”. Together with Canada's Ocean Supercluster, Assembly of First Nations and WorldFish we spotlighted Indigenous-led and small-scale fisheries as vital to sustainable blue food systems. It was a reminder that traditional knowledge and community-based stewardship are not just complementary to science—they are essential to it. Elevating Indigenous leadership is not only a matter of justice, but of effectiveness in achieving long-term ocean sustainability.
What we witnessed in Nice was a shift—from fragmented ambition to unified action, from reactive fixes to proactive strategies. The ocean is not a siloed issue; it is the foundation of life on Earth. Protecting it requires collaboration across sectors, borders, and disciplines.
At Ocean Wise, we are committed to leading this charge. The tide is turning—and with the momentum generated at #UNOC3, we have a real opportunity to chart a new course for ocean health.
Because when we save the ocean, we truly do save the world.