The ocean’s alarm bells are ringing.
Sea surface temperatures are at record highs due to climate change, marine pollution is pervasive, and ecosystem decline and biodiversity loss are rife. With just five years left to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), SDG14 — the target to “conserve and sustainably use the oceans” — has seen slow progress and received the least funding of all the SDGs. And President Trump’s return to office has delivered yet another blow, suspending offshore wind energy projects and emphasizing resource extraction.
All this stands in the way of building a sustainable ocean economy that supports people’s needs and protects the ocean. But at the same time, our ocean challenges and commitments are coming to a head. Over the past decade, the world made a number of important international ocean agreements and treaties that require swift implementation this year to ensure they are effective.
That’s why 2025 is a bellwether year for the ocean.
It’s one of deadlines and milestones. It brings both the pressure and the potential to be transformative for ocean governance, conservation and sustainable development. With a packed calendar of high-profile events, critical milestones, and major international agreements in the making — the ocean will, finally, take center stage.
6 Opportunities for Ocean Progress in 2025
1) Protecting the high seas
The UN’s Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction, known as the High Seas Treaty, seeks to conserve and sustainably use marine resources in the 61% of the ocean that lies outside of national jurisdiction; an enormous area lacking comprehensive protections. Current international agreements, such as the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), impose responsibilities on states to protect nature, but only within their national boundaries. This leaves a significant governance gap of approximately 104 million square miles, or 43% of the Earth’s surface.
After nearly two decades of discussion, including five years of negotiations, the treaty was adopted in 2023. With 106 signatories and 15 ratifications already, the pressure is on to secure the 60 ratifications needed, with hopes that this can be achieved by the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) in Nice, France this June. Conference co-hosts France and Costa Rica are leading the diplomatic effort to make UNOC a major moment for the High Seas Treaty.
2) Tackling harmful fisheries subsidies
In June 2022, the World Trade Organization (WTO) achieved a milestone by adopting the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. This initial agreement (“Fish One”) addresses the most harmful subsidies, which are government payments that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, overfished stocks, and fishing on unregulated high seas. For the agreement to take effect, it requires formal acceptance from two-thirds of WTO members (111 countries). As of early 2025, 89 members had ratified it, leaving 22 more to reach the threshold. Securing the remaining acceptances is a major focus for ocean advocates in 2025.
Negotiations will also continue on “Fish Two” of the agreement, which targets broader subsidy reforms, including capacity-enhancing activities like vessel construction and fuel subsidies. Addressing concerns of developing countries will be critical to ensuring the agreement balances sustainability goals with development needs, and that it achieves broad buy-in.
3) Securing a Global Plastics Treaty
Efforts to finalize a comprehensive treaty addressing plastic pollution continue in 2025. Between 8 and 10 million metric tons of plastic ends up in the ocean each year, and plastic waste accounts for about 80% of all marine pollution. The treaty aims to create a legally binding agreement covering the entire lifecycle of plastics, from production to disposal. The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) initially aimed to finalize it by the end of 2024. However, significant differences among participating nations delayed a final agreement. As negotiations extend into 2025, there are high hopes for reaching an agreement.
A High Ambition Coalition of over 100 countries is advocating for binding commitments to reduce virgin plastic production and eliminate harmful chemicals. However, oil-producing nations like Saudi Arabia, Russia and China are pushing for a focus on waste management and recycling. Rwanda’s proposal for a global target to reduce primary plastic polymer production and phase out harmful chemicals gained traction in 2024, as did Panama’s suggestion of mandatory reporting on plastic production. These proposals and political dynamics set the stage for critical discussions in 2025.
4) Developing rules for deep-sea mining
The International Seabed Authority (ISA) aims to finalize regulations for the commercial exploitation of deep-sea minerals. Deep-sea mining remains divisive; its impact is still largely unknown, and many scientists fear it could have grave consequences for marine life and planetary health. Negotiations have failed to reach an agreement so far, but all eyes will be on Kingston, Jamaica in July as the ISA gathers for its 30th session, where member states will work to find a consensus.
WRI’s ocean priorities for 2025
100% Alliance
This global campaign aims to ensure 100% sustainable management of ocean areas under national jurisdiction by 2030. Coordinated by WRI and led by the government of France in partnership with the Ocean Panel, the initiative will use UNOC as an opportunity to celebrate new commitments from countries joining the 19 members already committed to this goal.
Social Ocean Accounting
WRI’s community-based approach to social accounting for the ocean, piloted in Mozambique, highlights how coastal communities depend upon ocean resources for their livelihoods, food security, and cultural connections. By embedding social equity in ocean governance, this approach ensures inclusive decision-making. In 2025, WRI will expand this framework to other regions and showcase its impact at the OOC.
5) Delivering the EU Ocean Pact
The EU Ocean Pact, announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, is a political initiative to promote sustainable ocean management and ensure the resilience and productivity of marine ecosystems. The Pact is being informed by a call for evidence, inviting input from stakeholders. The final version will be presented at UNOC in Nice.
6) A series of high-profile events
Our Ocean Conference (OOC) – Busan, South Korea – April 28-30
2025 marks the 10th edition of the OOC. Since its inception in 2014, the OOC has catalyzed over 2,600 voluntary commitments worth around $140 billion from governments, businesses and civil society to advance marine conservation. In our role as secretariat to the OOC, WRI’s Ocean Program will use this milestone as an opportunity to analyze the progress made on these commitments, fostering accountability and guiding future actions.
UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) – Nice, France – June 9-13
The third UNOC, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, will be a critical moment for making progress on SDG14. UNOC is expected to yield significant outcomes, including the Nice Ocean Action Plan, which will feature a political declaration, potentially the ratification of the High Seas Treaty, and commitments from public and private sectors.
The lead-up to the UNOC features three pre-conference events: the One Ocean Science Congress will provide scientific insights into ocean health to guide conservation and sustainable use; the Ocean Rise and Coastal Resilience Coalition Summit will launch a coalition of coastal cities and island states to address sea level rise, share best practices and mobilize resources; and finally, the Blue Economy and Finance Forum will spotlight sustainable investment and innovation, and foster collaboration to build a resilient ocean economy.
IUCN Congress – Abu Dhabi, UAE – October 9-15
The IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 will bring together global experts, leaders and decision-makers to discuss and address the world’s most pressing conservation and sustainability challenges. Held every four years, it is the largest nature conservation gathering in the world. It is an essential platform for addressing challenges like marine pollution, overfishing and climate change, while mobilizing resources for biodiversity protection.
COP30 – Belém, Brazil – November 10-21
COP30 will be a critical opportunity to integrate the conservation of tropical forests and the ocean (both significant carbon sinks) into global climate strategies. In November, Presidents Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil and Emmanuel Macron of France launched the “Road from Nice to Belém” initiative, to connect the outcomes of the 2025 UNOC in Nice to COP30 in Belém. This highlights the integrated approach needed to address both ocean conservation and climate change, ensuring that the commitments and actions agreed upon at UNOC are carried forward and built upon at COP30.
A Pivotal Year for the Ocean
By using these opportunities to advance sustainable ocean management, we can achieve transformative change that benefits people, nature and the climate. That’s why the ocean must remain a priority throughout this pivotal year. Success depends on collective action. We call on governments, businesses and civil society to join us in making 2025 a momentous year for the ocean.