A Strengthened Partnership to Protect the Oceans

On June 9, 2025, the President of the Comoros, Azali Assoumani, was received by French President Emmanuel Macron.

This exchange strengthened relations between France and the Comoros, with a particular focus on ocean protection and climate justice. Support was expressed for an international agreement on high seas biodiversity, aimed at preserving marine areas beyond territorial waters. The meeting also addressed the issue of Mayotte. The Union of the Comoros maintains its position regarding this island, based on international legality and national sovereignty.

The High Seas Treaty, signed in 2023, applies to the oceans beyond the exclusive economic zones of states, which extend up to 200 nautical miles from the coast. This text will enable the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in these international zones, including the seabed and its subsoil. Sixty ratifications are required for the treaty to enter into force, while 32 countries and the European Union have already signed.

The Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), held in Nice until June 13, brings together 63 heads of state and government. Banning bottom trawling and strengthening the protection of marine protected areas are among the priorities. The goal is to strengthen the conservation of the oceans and their resources by 2030. According to NGOs, the health of the oceans remains fragile: sea surface temperatures reached a record high in 2024, plastic pollution amounts to 11 million tons each year, and nearly 38% of fish stocks are overexploited. These challenges threaten marine ecosystems and coastal populations.