This past June, SUBMON had the privilege of participating in two of the most important international events focused on the future of the ocean: the One Ocean Science Congress (OOSC) and the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), both held in Nice.
Beyond the presentations and speeches, being immersed in this kind of forum gives us the opportunity to reflect more broadly on the role of NGOs as agents of change: bridging the gap between research and action, connecting science with policy, creating spaces for learning, and promoting citizen engagement through a comprehensive, yet critical, lens.
At the same time, it is also our role to recognise when progress is being made. The momentum sparked decades ago to foster ocean literacy is beginning to show tangible results, becoming a fundamental, cross-cutting theme in any effort to transform the relationship between society and the sea when it comes to marine science and conservation.
First stop: One Ocean Science Congress, science, urgency, and coherence
The congress covered a remarkably diverse range of topics: marine restoration, protected areas, fisheries, connectivity, blue economy, entrepreneurship, blue carbon, citizen science, Digital Twins of the Ocean, ocean modeling and forecasting, global warming, and much more. At times, keeping up with it all was overwhelming. But looking closely, a clear pattern emerged: all these issues pointed toward a common goal, action and with the blue economy playing a central role.
Yet, it’s not just any blue economy. The call is for a regenerative blue economy1, grounded in scientific evidence and long-term sustainability. There is still a long road ahead, and this is precisely where NGOs have a crucial role to play.
As part of the SEA2SEE project, SUBMON was honored to be included in the official OOSC programme, delivering an oral presentation focused on our approach to seafood literacy and the engagement actions we’ve developed. We had the chance to show before a large and engaged audience how active participation can reshape the way we understand and consume seafood, using educational, technological, and community-based tools to connect knowledge with daily decision-making.
One of the most powerful moments of the OOSC came with the collective signing by the scientific community of a call to governments urging UNOC3 to become a conference of action. The call demanded an immediate response, based on scientific evidence, equity, and shared responsibility, built on three pillars:
- Act now where science is clear: end fossil fuel subsidies, protect at least 30% of the ocean, and eliminate illegal fishing.
- Advance knowledge before taking irreversible steps: pause high-risk interventions lacking sufficient evidence, increase investment in ocean science and observation, and support a regenerative, science-based blue economy.
- Turn knowledge into action and action into justice: integrate ocean literacy into education, promote inclusive governance, and support local leadership, with full transparency and a precautionary approach.
While the journey ahead is long, it was encouraging to see how our projects align with these global priorities. At SUBMON, we contribute through initiatives that:
- Promote marine stewardship grounded in integrated knowledge, like in BLUE CONNECT;
- Protect and restore marine ecosystems, like in OCEAN CITIZEN;
- Combat illegal fishing and promote sustainable seafood systems, like in SEA2SEE;
- All of them based on transdisciplinary knowledge directed toward concrete action.
Still, despite the strong scientific content, real spaces for interaction and dialogue between policymakers, researchers, and NGOs remain scarce. We are often asked for innovation, social commitment, and transdisciplinary approaches, but even in these big forums where these values are reaffirmed, putting them into practice remains a challenge. There’s a clear need for more horizontal, participatory formats that enable genuine co-creation of solutions and, above all, real commitments to implementation.
Looking at the congress conclusions, we left satisfied and with a renewed sense of direction. The ten key recommendations drawn from the conference directly support our lines of work. Knowing that our projects are aligned with international strategies strengthens our conviction that we are on the right path.
Recommendations from the One Ocean Science Congress.
Second stop: UNOC3, a global conference… and a call for coherence
The participation of NGOs at UNOC3 was both necessary and inspiring. As an accredited organization, SUBMON was able to bring the voice of civil society and share on-the-ground experiences. Acting as knowledge brokers, we helped build bridges between science and public policy, always advocating for ocean literacy to be a pillar for real transformation.
Yet the reality of the event left us with mixed feelings. At many points, space planning and lack of organization made meaningful exchange difficult: large rooms stood nearly empty while others has limited capacity, and logistical barriers made it hard to move between areas or attend key sessions. Pre-event communication was limited and unclear, making it hard to fully take advantage of such a significant gathering. Even basic elements like energy use, waste management, and accessibility raised critical questions about whether these events are truly living up to the challenges they aim to address.
Still, there were valuable moments. As part of SEA2SEE, we organized a side event that, despite its modest attendance, became a highly meaningful space. The intimate setting, a small street-level theater, fostered deep dialogue between attendees and speakers, with honest discussions on traceability, transparency, and responsible consumption of seafood. The questions were tough, the answers nuanced, but the shared reflection was genuine. There was a strong sense of connection and common purpose to improve traceability and ensure consumers have easy access to reliable information.
Side event in which our colleague Juanita Zorrilla participated.
After two intense weeks, we return with hope. With new contacts, conversations, collaboration proposals, and many ideas to explore. We are more convinced than ever that we need to work closer to, not farther from, policymakers, encouraging them to be bold in implementing simple but necessary measures, even when they imply major changes.
Despite the ongoing contradictions between what is said and what is done, these two conferences reminded us of something essential: we are not alone. There is a broad, committed, and diverse community working across science, education, conservation, and social innovation to achieve real change.
We are short on time. We are running late. But we move forward, steadfast in our belief that transformation is possible. At SUBMON, we will continue navigating through partnerships, grounded in evidence and rigorous work, toward a fairer, more sustainable, and healthier future for our ocean.
1 le Gouvello, R. & Simard, F. (2024). Towards a regenerative Blue Economy. Mapping the Blue Economy. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN.↩ Return
