VICTORIA, Seychelles — The third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), jointly organised by France and Costa Rica, will take place in Nice from June 9 to 13, 2025, with Seychelles set to participate. With the theme ‘Accelerating action and mobilising all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean’, the conference will focus on advancing Sustainable Development Goal 14, the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean, seas, and marine resources.
UNOC3 aims to galvanise global efforts and scale up commitments to protect the ocean, while exploring innovative solutions and partnerships to address current challenges. It will serve as a platform for reviewing progress, identifying gaps, and encouraging urgent action across multiple sectors. The event will bring together a wide range of actors including United Nations member states, intergovernmental organisations, NGOs, academia, the private sector, philanthropic institutions, indigenous peoples, and local communities.
Briefing the press yesterday, Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, France’s ambassador for the oceans, commended Seychelles for its forward-thinking approach. “Seychelles is more than a maritime country. You are thinking 20 years ahead, forging a peaceful relationship with the seas. Your country is setting an example,” he said. Although President Wavel Ramkalawan will not be attending due to upcoming elections, Seychelles will be represented at the conference, and is expected to play an active role in the Ocean Action Panels and side events.
