Madagascar and its Neighbors defend the Ocean at UNOC3

The third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) will take place from June 9 to 13, 2025, in France and Costa Rica.

This year’s theme is: “Accelerating Action and Mobilizing All Stakeholders to Conserve and Sustainably Use the Ocean.” Among the participants, Indian Ocean countries such as Madagascar, the Comoros, Seychelles, and Mauritius played a prominent role. From the podium, the President of the Republic of Madagascar reiterated the urgency of action: “Protecting our environment is protecting our future.

Therefore, protecting the ocean is a duty, an emergency, and it must be a collective act.” The message highlights the natural wealth of the Indian Ocean region, but also its great vulnerability to climate change. In the Comoros and Mauritius, authorities have emphasized the importance of the blue economy. An economy based on fishing and sustainable tourism. These two sectors can only function with a healthy ocean, free of waste and pollution.

The Indian Ocean island countries are now awaiting concrete action to address environmental challenges. The survival of marine ecosystems and the sustainable development of coastal populations depend on it. An international treaty on the protection of international waters, signed by 60 countries, was welcomed during the conference. This treaty will finally enter into force, after several years of waiting.