Advancing Sustainable Oceans: What We Hope to See at UN Ocean Conference 2025 and Beyond
The 3rd UN Ocean Conference must offer transformative action for aquatic animals
The 3rd UN Ocean Conference, set to take place in Nice in June 2025, is a critical opportunity for the international community to recognize the urgency of the challenges facing the ocean and provide much-needed solutions. It aspires to tackle key challenges head-on and create a platform for transformative action via ocean science and funding. To achieve this, a call for feedback from civil society was issued. Aquatic Life Institute and our partner, Mercy for Animals, participated in the submission.
Focus on Aquatic Animal Welfare
Based on our previous UN Ocean Conference experiences, we are emphasizing the same issue: aquatic animals must not be left out of the conversation. Despite being sentient beings, aquatic animals are predominantly regarded solely for their economic and food value. This is particularly remarkable considering that the number of aquatic animals slaughtered annually for food is 35 times greater than the number of all farmed land animals killed. Yet, their well-being receives significantly less attention than that of land animals bred for consumption.
It is important to recognize that aquatic animals are not an infinite resource. Presently, nearly 90% of the world's fish populations are fully exploited, overexploited, or depleted due to the current rate of fisheries catch. Nevertheless, we continue to perceive these living creatures as mere "stocks" to be exploited, focusing solely on their collective weight rather than acknowledging them as individual beings. Additionally, among the numerous voluntary commitments submitted to the UN in support of implementing SDG14, Aquatic Life Institute is the only one that mentions the welfare of fish or aquatic animals. Furthermore, the official Declaration from the Conference failed to acknowledge the importance of considering the well-being of aquatic animals themselves.
Civil Society’s Role
Our primary goal within the UN Ocean Conference is to be a leading voice for the protection and conservation of aquatic animals worldwide. We attend to raise awareness about the importance of safeguarding marine ecosystems, promote shifts to more sustainable and ethical fishing practices, and combat the chemical, waste and plastic pollution that threatens the health and well-being of our oceans and aquatic animals.
To achieve these goals, we plan to actively engage with stakeholders, including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses and local communities. Through our participation, we hope to inspire and empower others to take similar action for aquatic animal welfare. We also hope to serve as a global hub and catalyst for positive change for aquatic animal welfare.
Key Deliverables at the 3rd UN Ocean Conference
These are a few of our key deliverables for the next UN Ocean Conference:
Expanding Commitments for Aquatic Animal Welfare: We must build momentum towards ending the exploitation of marine life for aquatic animal feed production. By garnering international commitments, we can ensure the well-being of aquatic animals and mitigate the harmful impacts of unsustainable practices.
Promoting Sustainable and Ethical Fishing Practices: The conference should emphasize the urgent need to end destructive fishing methods like driftnets and bottom-trawling. By advocating for sustainable alternatives, we can protect marine ecosystems and promote truly responsible fishing practices that maintain ecological balance.
Integrating Animal Welfare into Ocean Governance: We must commit to considering animal welfare in all aspects of ocean governance. By addressing the harmful effects of overconsumption of aquatic animal products and integrating animal welfare into policies, we can achieve a harmonious balance between human activities and marine life conservation.
Moving Beyond UN Ocean Conference
The 3rd UN Ocean Conference presents an ideal platform to identify actions that go beyond the targets set by SDG 14: Life Below Water. While the SDGs have brought attention to sustainable development, there are critical gaps that need to be addressed, including:
Awareness and Education: We should launch comprehensive awareness campaigns to highlight the importance of aquatic animal welfare and its connection to SDG 14. By engaging governments and the private sector through media platforms and educational initiatives, we can uplift SDG 14 and foster a deeper understanding of sustainable ocean management.
Policy Advocacy: Active engagement with governments and international bodies is crucial for developing and implementing effective policies and regulations. By conducting research, forging partnerships, and advocating for sustainable practices, we can influence decision-makers to prioritize marine conservation and sustainable practices for decades to come.
Collaboration and Partnerships: To address the complex challenges our oceans face, collaboration is key. By fostering partnerships between governments, the private sector, and NGOs, we can leverage combined expertise, resources, and networks. Multi-stakeholder dialogues and collaborative initiatives will accelerate progress towards SDG 14 and beyond.
Capacity Building and Technology Transfer: Supporting governments and the private sector in developing skills and knowledge is crucial. Through capacity-building programs and technology transfer initiatives, we empower stakeholders to implement sustainable and ethical fishing practices.
By focusing on improving the welfare of aquatic animals, we can holistically address critical gaps, protect marine life, and ensure a sustainable future for our oceans. If you want to collaborate or support our work, let us know.