Last week, A’Pelago took part in the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice.
As the conference wrapped up, one thing was crystal clear: we are standing at the edge of a trillion-dollar blue economy innovation and investment opportunity, but time is running out. The moment to collaborate, innovate, and invest in sustainable blue economy solutions that enable sea regeneration is now. The window for action is still open, but closing quickly.
"Talk without action is pure hallucination."
This powerful statement by the President of Costa Rica, delivered during the opening of the Monaco Blue Economy and Finance Forum, resonated throughout the week — and rightly so. The evidence is undeniable: the Ocean is in peril. The time for endless discussions without concrete steps is over. We need bold action, both through personal choices and professional commitments.
UNOC3 succeeded like never before in bringing concrete solutions to the forefront. At the Startup Reef, curated by A'Pelago colleagues at 1000 Ocean Startups, we witnessed bold, scalable innovations backed by over 100 committed partners. The UNOC Forum Business Hub sessions were packed, and the non-political Green Zone attracted more than 100,000 visitors. Clearly, the momentum is building.
Currently, only 0.01% of global investments target ocean and sea health. But important steps to change the fact were taken at UNOC3: At the Blue Economy and Finance Forum (BEFF), an impressive $8.7 billion was committed over the next five years to regenerative, sustainable blue economy ventures, the highest level of private sector engagement in the history of UNOC.
Global leaders are also stepping up their involvement. Unless action is taken now, we risk missing the greatest opportunity of our time to restore sea and ocean ecosystems. During UNOC3, important steps forward were made: four new states joined the call for a precautionary pause on deep-seabed mining, bringing the total number of supporting countries to 37. Meanwhile, the BBNJ High Seas Treaty reached 50 ratifications, leaving 60 more required for it to enter into force. In addition, fewer than ten additional countries are now needed to ratify the WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement to bring it into effect.
During our time in Nice, the A'Pelago team engaged in negotiations with over 60 operators driving sustainable Blue Economy development. We also facilitated multiple new introductions for our Ecosystem startups, creating concrete opportunities to accelerate their development and impact.
Returning home to our shallow Baltic Sea just in time for the Midsummer celebrations, we are energized by the new collaborations, partnerships, and ideas that emerged. As always, there is still much to do — and now the work continues.
Together with our ecosystem members, we will continue to catalyze sustainable blue innovation and investment in the Baltic Sea that enables sea regeneration— from concept to commercialization, from pilots to scalable solutions. Together, we can – and will – continue to take determinated, unparalleled action for the seas. Now, our responsibility is to get the job done.
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Want to read more? a more comprehensive summary of the 3rd UN Ocean Conference offering key insights and takeaways topped with short summaries of outcomes from the three UNOC sub-events: One Ocean Science Forum, The Blue Economy and Finance Forum and UNOC3, is available on Blue Connect.
📩 Want full access? Join our ecosystem today to receive the full event summary, along with other exclusive updates, insights, and opportunities to connect with industry leaders. By securing your Initiative 2025 ticket, you automatically become an A’Pelago ecosystem member, unlocking even more benefits!
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