Polynesian Navigator Nainoa Thompson and Oceanographer Sylvia Earle Call for Urgent Ocean Action at Paris SOS Ocean Summit

April 7, 2025

Cover image: Courtesy of Presidence de la Republique France.

(PARIS, FRANCE) – Last week, renowned Oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle and Polynesian Voyaging Society CEO Nainoa Thompson joined global leaders in Paris for SOS Ocean, a high-level gathering held March 30-31 at the Musée National de la Marine. Under the leadership of French President Emmanuel Macron and in collaboration with the Oceano Azul Foundation, the event convened policymakers, scientists, and advocates to confront urgent ocean challenges as France and Costa Rica prepare to host the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC-3) in Nice in two months (June 9-13, 2025).

The SOS Ocean convening aimed to shape the Nice Ocean Action Plan, a five-year agenda which will be negotiated during UNOC and is designed to prioritize ocean protection and restoration and support implementation of sustainable development goal SDG14: Life Below Water. Presentations at the convening highlighted the accelerating consequences  of the climate crisis, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem collapse—underscoring the need for immediate, science-backed solutions.

Two major ocean priorities were repeatedly stressed during the event: the need to rapidly bring the high seas treaty into force so that urgently needed protections can be afforded to ecosystems and biodiversity in areas beyond countries’ national waters and the need to protect the deep sea with the growing threat of deep seabed mining. 

At the culmination of the two-day event, Thompson and Earle jointly presented the SOS Ocean Manifesto to President Macron issuing a powerful call to action for world leaders to adopt bold, ambitious, and regenerative policies at UNOC-3. Thompson and Earle also brought a call for urgency, ambition and an invitation to include the voices and people of the Pacific. Pacific peoples’ engagement in these international ocean processes is absolutely essential and must be supported.

“Now like never before, we have a chance to shift the ocean paradigm from one of extraction and destruction to one focused on regeneration and protection.” said Dr. Earle. “The scientific community has been clear, we have 5 years to make this shift; realizing this new ocean paradigm will take big and bold commitments. The high seas treaty offers new hope and opportunity to protect life in over half the planet. We must urgently bring the treaty into force and at the same time stop allowing the continued degradation of the ocean: pollution, industrial fishing, mining and other activities incompatible with securing a healthy marine environment. The time is now to act boldly and to act together to protect our most precious life support system, the ocean.” she concluded.

“The world’s oceans are 70 percent of the earth’s surface.  When you protect the oceans, you are protecting all life on earth.  They provide over half of the oxygen humans breathe, regulate our climate and stabilize global temperatures so that the earth can provide the food that we need.  Human actions are disrupting this vital balance, changing the earth and now it’s changing us,” said Thompson. “This meeting here in Paris has given us the opportunity to identify the critical issues to be addressed at UNOC-3 so we can protect the health of our oceans and the future of humanity,” he added.

Under President Macron’s leadership, France is leading global efforts to protect the high seas and stop deep seabed mining before it begins.  Currently, France is the only country that supports a ban on deep seabed mining in international waters and the French government has been instrumental in advancing efforts to secure the 60 ratifications needed to bring the high seas treaty into force, which would enable the establishment and management of marine protected areas on the high seas. These two ocean priorities are particularly relevant for the Pacific Ocean, a region which stands at the frontlines of the climate and biodiversity crises. 

In addition to Earle and Thompson, other notable leaders and ocean advocates who joined President Macron in Paris lasts week included Monaco’s Prince Albert II; António Costa, President of the European Council; Al Gore, former Vice President of the United States; Michelle Bachelet, former President of Chile; Peter Thomson, UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean. 

As the world looks toward UNOC-3 in Nice 2025, Thompson, Earle, and the leaders of SOS Ocean will carry the Paris conclusions to the global stage, urging nations to act decisively in securing a resilient and thriving future for our ocean.

As fellow-members of the ocean advocacy group Ocean Elders, Thompson and Earle have joined forces along with other ocean leaders to use their collective influence to pursue the protection of the ocean’s habitat and wildlife.  Since its founding, the Ocean Elders have worked closely with partners to advocate for the creation, continued protection and/or expansion of marine protected areas, the creation and implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water, a new treaty for the high seas, and the protection of marine wildlife.