Press release

UNOC: Ocean protection gains momentum—but the Earth’s lawyers warn enforcement is key to turning the tide

13 June 2025

As the 2025 UN Ocean Conference concludes today, ClientEarth has welcomed a series of high-level pledges to protect the High Seas, step up action against plastic pollution, and push for a moratorium on deep sea mining – while cautioning that implementation and enforcement at home remain the true test.

ClientEarth CEO Laura Clarke:

“We’ve come out of this week with a renewed sense of unity around the ocean —multilateralism is not only alive but asserting itself, even in the face of blatant setbacks, like the U.S. executive order promoting deep-sea mining.

“We’ve witnessed positive steps towards protecting the High Seas, addressing plastic pollution and re-asserting the moratorium on deep sea mining. It’s now urgent to turn these pledges into actions so that the ocean – which is essential for our future on Earth – can come back from the brink.”

But despite some key announcements by countries such as the UK proposing  to ban bottom trawling — one of the most destructive fishing practices — in half of English off-shore MPAs, the world is off-target to meet the global goal to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030.

ClientEarth is disappointed that many European countries  are still falling short in stopping destructive bottom trawling in their MPAs. This it at odds with multiple recent rulings from the General Court of the EU - including one this week - clarifying that bottom trawling has no place in protected areas.

Clarke added:

“Pledges on paper mean nothing if ocean ecosystems are still being ripped up by bottom trawlers. The EU Court made it clear - sensitive Marine Protected Areas need to be protected from bottom trawling.

“The UK’s announcement on bottom trawling is a major win but this still needs to be confirmed and properly implemented so that protected really means protected.”

Despite momentum on some issues, the conference closed with a weak political declaration, with all UNOC pledges needing to be implemented or confirmed in future international negotiations.    

Clarke said:

“We’ll be watching. Ocean protection cannot wait for the next conference cycle. It's time for governments to take the plunge and do the work needed to protect our ocean.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

The EU's General Court has issued  two rulings on Wednesday and another one  a few weeks ago confirming protection for crucial ocean ecosystems from harmful fishing gear.

UNOC in numbers (source UNOC closing press conference with two co-hosts and the UN):

  • 51 countries have now confirmed the ratification of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) and hopefully 65 by next September

  • New announcements on protected areas under strict protection are leading to 11% (compared to 8.4% before UNOC)

  • 96 ministers engaged for an ambitious Plastics Treaty

  • 37 countries have called for a precautionary pause on deep sea mining

  • 90% of Exclusive Economic Zones was represented at UNOC

  • More than 50 Heads of State and Government, 10 Action Panels, 100k visitors of the Green Zone.

About ClientEarth

ClientEarth is a non-profit organisation that uses the law to create systemic change that protects the Earth for – and with – its inhabitants. We are tackling climate change, protecting nature and stopping pollution, with partners and citizens around the globe. We hold industry and governments to account, and defend everyone’s right to a healthy world. From our offices in Europe, Asia and the USA we shape, implement and enforce the law, to build a future for our planet in which people and nature can thrive together.