On 10 June, during the second day of the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC 2025), civil society took center stage on the shores of the Mediterranean. The Centre Universitaire Méditerranéen in Nice hosted a full afternoon of dialogue, declarations, and forward-thinking vision under the title Civil society envisioning Mediterranean Action in the Future—a gathering dedicated to breaking silos and building a shared path for regional ocean protection.
Discussions addressed marine biodiversity loss, plastic pollution, climate-driven migration, environmental crime, and the urgent need to recognize the Mediterranean as both an ecological and humanitarian space. The day culminated in the launch of a region-wide survey and the signing of the One Sea, One Future Declaration by over 100 civil society entities, signalling a united civil society voice in global ocean governance.
Civil Society in Action: Breaking Silos, Building Vision
Moderator Rémi Parmentier, coordinator of the Let’s Be Nice to the Ocean initiative, opened the day:
“There’s a lot of talk about breaking silos—‘break the silos!’ as we say. That must be a key lesson for future UN Ocean Conferences. Without civil society, progress simply doesn’t happen as it should.”
Olivier Wenden, Vice President of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, echoed this vision:
“Breaking silos is in our DNA. And we’re proud to see more than 110 civil society organizations now backing the Protection Principle. With your launch of the Task Force initiative yesterday, we look forward to seeing where this momentum leads.”
Intergenerational Voices, Shared Responsibilities
Throughout the afternoon, participants explored the region’s past, present, and future through panels including intergenerational and cross-border dialogues. The first panel, moderated by Julien Rochette of IDDRI, featured expert Puri Canals, and Rabeb Aloui, a Tunisian youth leader with UNEP’s Women’s Major Group.
“Decades of change in the Mediterranean have taught us that cooperation is not optional—it’s survival,” said Puri.
“Hope for the future lies in local knowledge, youth energy, and policy coherence,” added Rabeb.
The second dialogue, led by Pierre Cannet of ClientEarth, brought together Emna Ben Lamine (The MedFund, Tunisia) and François Sarano (Longitude 181), in a charged conversation around governance, protected areas, and new values.
“We need to extend human rights thinking to other species,” said Sarano.
“And we must ensure that Marine Protected Areas are not just designated—but financed, managed, and enforced,” added Emna.
Success stories
Participants also celebrated tangible successes—stories that inspire and instruct:
- From Albania, Laureta Sdrillaki shared a video on co-management in the Karaburun-Sazan MPA.
- Marta Cavallé, Executive Secretary of Low Impact Fishers of Europe (LIFE), outlined the role of small scale artisnaal fishers as guardians of the ocean
- Aniol Esteban of Fundación Marilles presented the Balearic Blue Pact, engaging tourism stakeholders to protect the sea, and remarking: “We need to give back to the sea.”
- Ahmed Souki of Beyond Plastic Med (BeMed) spotlighted campaigns to reduce plastic use at its source.
Recognising the Mediterranean as a humanitarian space
Sabine Grenard, of SOS Méditerranée, reminded us that, a decade after the 2015 humanitarian crisis, thousands still risk their lives crossing the Mediterranean. With climate change set to accelerate these movements, SOS Méditerranée called for the sea to be recognized as a true humanitarian space—where the unconditional duty to assist, both morally and legally, must be upheld.
This was followed by comments by Rym Benzina from the Tunisian NGO La Saison Bleue, facilitator of the annual Bizerte Annual Forum and Blue Africa Summit in Tanger, who reminded the words of the French writer Julien Grack: “The reassuring thing about balance is that nothing moves. The truth about balance is that it only takes a breath to set everything in motion.” Rym expressed hope that a breath will promote reciprocity, ecosystem protection, and balanced relationships to foster peace.
The Pelagos Consortium: a renewed pact for marine mammals
Philippe Mondielli (Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation) announced the creation of the Pelagos Consortium, a new initiative to revitalize marine mammal protection across French, Italian, and Monegasque waters.
He was joined by Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara, a co-founder of the original Pelagos Sanctuary, and underwater photographer Greg Lecoeur, who brought the Mediterranean to life through images.
Uniting against environmental crime
Jean-François Thony, of The Siracusa International Institute for Criminal Justice and Human Rights intervened from the audience to underscore the urgency of coordinated legal frameworks and joint action to combat environmental crime in the Mediterranean. He stressed that without harmonized legal definitions of environmental offences across the region, meaningful cooperation remains out of reach—allowing criminal networks to continue exploiting legal loopholes.
One Sea, One Future — Signed and Carried Forward
As the programme moved toward its culmination, Giuseppe Di Carlo and Mia Marty, of the Monaco Oceanographic Institute, presented the results of a live civil society survey and launched the One Sea, One Future Declaration—already signed by over 100 organizations across the Mediterranean basin.
“This declaration is not just a statement—it’s a compass,” said Di Carlo.
“It captures our shared vision and demands: a protected, resilient Mediterranean for future generations.”
A Collective Mural for Deep-Sea Biodiversity
Among the many interactive elements featured during the day, participants were invited by the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC) to celebrate Mediterranean biodiversity by contributing to a collective mural showcasing the region’s unique seamounts—underwater mountains that are home to fragile and often unexplored ecosystems.
This large-scale artwork served as both an educational tool and a visual call to action. Seamounts urgently need protection, as they face increasing threats from destructive fishing practices, pollution, and the looming risks of deep-sea mining.
Many participants contributed to the mural, including Sara Aagesen, Third Vice-President of the Government of Spain and Minister for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, who joined civil society leaders in painting and engaging in dialogue around the future of deep-sea protections in the Mediterranean. To help reinforce the message, breakfast was served in the form of sea life–shaped brioche cakes—starfish, turtles, and fish—offering a playful yet symbolic reminder of what’s at stake beneath the surface.
The initiative was led by the DSCC, in collaboration with the Besign School of Nice and The Varda Group.
