By: Kristin Kleisner, Marie Hubatova, and Karly Kelso
Recent geopolitical shifts and trade tensions have rocked the international community, and our vast oceans, far from being immune, are often on the front lines.
Shifts in U.S. foreign policy, such as a retreat from robust international engagement under the Trump administration, risk undermining decades of hard-won progress in fisheries health and marine conservation. Such decisions are short-sighted for the nation’s economy and for the many communities and industries that rely on healthy, productive seas. Historically, the United States has been an effective force in international fisheries management and ocean science that helped to drive crucial conservation measures.
But as global power dynamics shift, the urgency for unified, ambitious action to protect our seas, bolster local economies, and tackle the climate crisis has never been more critical.
Our ability to conserve and collectively manage our oceans is an undeniable litmus test for the health of international relations and collaboration—and vice versa. When cooperation flourishes, our oceans benefit; when it falters, the damage is felt not only by marine ecosystems but also by the fabric of global partnerships.
The ocean, after all, waits for no nation. Its challenges— from climate-change-induced warming and acidification to rampant overfishing and pervasive pollution— are relentless, transboundary, and demand a united, international approach.
EDF, along with nations around the world, is attending the UN Oceans Conference (UNOC) this month to ensure the world can collectively grasp the helm and navigate towards a sustainable future for our oceans. Here’s why EDF sees international collaboration as key to healthy seas, and how we’re making an impact at UNOC:
Vibrant oceans demand global teamwork
To protect our oceans, our forums and processes for global collaboration must remain strong. The fundamental nature of marine ecosystems makes international cooperation indispensable:
- A shared global common: Approximately two-thirds of the ocean lies beyond national exclusive economic zones (EEZs), in areas known as the ‘high seas’. These vast stretches are a shared heritage, and their conservation challenges transcend national boundaries, making international cooperation an absolute necessity.
- Economic interdependence: Many economies are deeply intertwined with ocean resources through fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, and shipping. How one country manages its marine territory can directly impact the economy of another. A thriving “Blue Economy” that benefits all communities requires sustainable practices underpinned by international cooperation.
- The climate crisis is an ocean crisis: The ocean has absorbed over 90% of excess global heat and roughly a quarter of our carbon dioxide emissions. This critical buffering role comes at a steep price: rising sea levels, marine heatwaves, acidification, and deoxygenation. Only a united global effort to slash emissions and build resilience can address this shared threat.
- Pollution knows no borders: Plastic debris, chemical runoff, and even atmospheric carbon emissions don’t respect political lines on a map. Pollution originating in one part of the world can devastate distant ecosystems and coastal communities. This demands globally coordinated strategies.
- Migratory species need protection wherever they roam: From majestic whales to commercially vital tuna, countless marine species traverse vast oceanic basins. Effective conservation is impossible without international cooperation on sustainable management, protected areas, and anti-illegal fishing efforts across their entire range.
Advancing collaborative solutions for our oceans at UN Oceans Conference
At UNOC 2025, EDF will showcase how integrated, science-based solutions can tackle climate and ocean challenges simultaneously. From advancing vessel electrification in island nations to elevating the role of blue foods and protecting deep-sea ecosystems, our coordinated efforts across shipping and fisheries demonstrate the power of international collaboration to drive equitable, lasting impact for communities and the planet.
Here are our priorities at UNOC 2025:
- Protecting the mesopelagic zone (The “Twilight Zone”): This vast mid-ocean realm, lying 200 to 1000 meters below the surface, is crucial for ocean health and trapping climate pollution. Facing growing interest from fishing and deep-sea mining, we need the international community to enforce a precautionary pause on extractive activities until robust science and management frameworks are in place.
- Leveraging blue foods as a climate solution: Sustainably managed fisheries and aquaculture offer nutrient-rich food with a significantly lower carbon footprint than many land-based proteins. We’re urging countries to integrate sustainable blue foods into their national strategies, providing the opportunity to nutritiously feed communities and support local economies while progressing 9 of the 13 Sustainable Development Goals and building resilience to climate change.
- Reducing climate pollution from maritime shipping: Replacing fossil fuels with alternatives that do not harm the climate, environment and human health and electrifying vessels where possible is critical for protecting coastal ecosystems and communities, especially in vulnerable Small Island Developing States (SIDS). We are advancing real-world collaborations to scale up vessel electrification and sustainable port infrastructure, particularly in regions like the Caribbean.
Healthy oceans, healthy economies, healthy relations
Healthy oceans are powerful economic engines. The “Blue Economy” — the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, livelihoods, and jobs while preserving ecosystem health— is a global endeavor, but countries that advance solutions to foster healthy oceans can best reap the economic benefits.
- Fisheries and aquaculture: In 2020, these sectors generated around $424 billion annually in global revenue. For many developing nations and SIDS, they are lifelines.
- Maritime shipping: The highways of global trade, this industry carries approximately 90% of all traded goods by volume, generating hundreds of billions in revenue and underpinning global supply chains.
- Priceless ecosystem services: Oceans regulate our climate by absorbing massive amounts of CO2 and heat. Coastal ecosystems like mangroves and coral reefs provide vital protection against storms and erosion, saving billions in potential damages.
Recognizing the economic contributions of our oceans means recognizing our shared responsibility to manage them sustainably. Investing in ocean conservation, sustainable practices, and green technologies is not just an environmental imperative; it’s a sound economic strategy that requires international buy-in and coordinated action.
In these turbulent geopolitical waters, collaboration on ocean issues serves as an essential anchor. The health of our oceans is a clear reflection of our ability to work together on shared global challenges. When we succeed in protecting our marine environment through robust international partnerships, we not only safeguard a critical life support system and economic engine, but we also strengthen the very foundations of global cooperation itself. The tide of ambitious, collective action must rise to meet this challenge.
For more on how EDF is participating at UNOC 2025, visit: https://www.edf.org/content/edf-united-nations-ocean-conference