The ninth Our Ocean Conference brought together governments and non-state actors who made more than 470 commitments to protect ocean health and security. These commitments are worth nearly USD 11.35 billion. Since the Our Ocean Conference was launched in 2014, it has amassed over 2,600 commitments worth around USD 140 billion.

Held on the theme, ‘An Ocean of Potential,’ in Athens, Greece, from 16-17 April, the ninth Our Ocean Conference sought to mobilize voluntary, measurable, impactful actions with a clear timeframe, as well as announcements on the successful implementation of previous Our Ocean commitments.

The commitments made during the conference span the six areas of action: marine protected areas (MPAs); sustainable blue economies; climate change; maritime security; sustainable fisheries; and marine pollution. 

As the conference host, Greece identified four additional focus areas: sustainable tourism in coastal areas and islands; green shipping; plastic and microplastic pollution; and the green transition in the Mediterranean Sea. Greece’s commitment pertains to sustainable fisheries and MPAs in the East Mediterranean Sea and seeks to ban bottom trawling in all MPAs by 2030, expand Greece’s MPAs to meet the ‘30×30’ target of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), establish a national monitoring and surveillance system of the MPAs, and conduct marine habitat mapping of the Greek MPAs, among other measures.

In addition to the official agenda, the conference featured numerous side events and a film festival.

In an effort to empower youth by emphasizing education, employability, and sustainable practices across conference themes, the Our Ocean Youth Leadership Summit, held in partnership with Sustainable Ocean Alliance, convened alongside the conference. The summit serves as a platform for youth-led solutions, fosters innovative ideas and commitments, and helps shape “an informed, skilled, and passionate generation dedicated to oceans’ well-being.”

The ninth Our Ocean Conference convened in a critical juncture for ocean governance. Major agreements to protect the ocean, including the Kunming-Montreal GBF and the BBNJ Agreement, were recently adopted. Preparations are in full swing for the Third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC), to be hosted by France and Costa Rica in Nice in June 2025. Meeting on the heels of the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference in Barcelona in April, ocean advocates gathered on the Greek island of Hydra to discuss new ideas to protect the ocean. In June, Costa Rica will convene stakeholders for a ‘High Level Event on Ocean Action: Immersed in Change.’ In July, the President of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) will hold a one-day preparatory meeting for the Third UN Ocean Conference. [Ninth Our Ocean Conference]