An official from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has called for more urgent action to protect ocean ecosystems, emphasizing that this year's United Nations Ocean Conference is expected to drive significant ambition on ocean-related issues.
The 3rd UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3), co-hosted by the governments of France and Costa Rica, will take place in Nice, southern France, from June 9 to 13.
As part of the conference, the One Ocean Science Congress was held from June 3 to 6, bringing together more than 2,000 scientists from around the world to generate science-based insights and policy recommendations in support of global discussions at UNOC3.
During the congress, a total of 10 recommendations were released, urging UN member states to take urgent and decisive action to safeguard the ocean, guided by scientific evidence.
During an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Pepe Clarke, oceans practice leader at WWF, briefed on the fund's role and functions.
"WWF uses images, science and storytelling to bring the ocean and the natural world more generally to life for the public, and we believe that by connecting with people in that way, we can help them to understand and value nature and to take action in their communities and their countries to contribute to a better future for nature," he said.
Clarke emphasized the importance of this year's UN Ocean Conference, which aims to promote commitments from various governments and stakeholders.
"The UN Ocean Conference this year is a very important opportunity for us to mark a turning point in the scale of ambition on ocean action. It is clear that the health of the ocean is in decline. The number of overfished stocks is increasing around the world. Climate change is having profound and pervasive impacts on the health of the ocean, and pollution presents a whole host of challenges to marine life. So urgent actions are required," he said.
"The Nice Ocean Action Plan is intended to have an orientation towards ambitious change for the ocean. France, and Costa Rica, and the United Nations who are co-hosting the UN Ocean Conference, are really seeking to promote the UN Ocean Conference as a forum for action. The Nice Ocean Action Plan will include a political declaration, and also a list of commitments from a wide range of governments and other stakeholders," he said.
Clarke outlined WWF's initiatives to protect ocean ecosystems, including the establishment and management of marine protected areas, the promotion of science-based fisheries management, and the implementation of targeted interventions for threatened marine species.
"WWF's priorities and recommendations to really ensure that we rapidly expand marine protected areas and other effective area-based conservation methods to allow habitats to recover would really need to focus on science-based fisheries management, reducing overfishing bycatch and impacts on natural habitats," said Clarke.
WWF is ramping up efforts to safeguard marine biodiversity through both large-scale and local conservation measures, with a strong emphasis on science-based approaches. Speaking on the organization's priorities, a WWF representative highlighted the importance of marine protected areas and sustainable fisheries management.
"WWF is working to support the establishment and effective management of marine protected areas around the world and also smaller-scale interventions like locally managed marine areas. Some marine protected areas are a proven tool. Science-based fisheries management has also been shown -- when it is effectively implemented -- to stabilize and restore depleted fish stocks. So science-based fisheries management is a vitally important tool and an area where WWF works in partnership with policymakers, with the fishing industry and the seafood sector," he said.
"And also targeted action for marine species that are under particular threat -- whales and dolphins, for example, marine turtles, sharks and rays. If we have targeted and strategic interventions focused on those species most at threat, we have seen that when properly implemented, we can achieve the recovery of some of those species," Clarke said.
The oceans practice leader also stressed the need to address climate change as part of efforts to protect ocean ecosystems.
"And finally, the actions that we take in the ocean and coastal communities will be futile if we don't address the global challenge of climate change. Climate change is having a pervasive and rapidly increasing impact on ocean ecosystems. So it's those combination of things -- work on habitats, fisheries, species, and climate change combined -- and underpinned by policy, finance and community level action," he said.
WWF calls for urgent action to protect oceans ahead of UN conference
