Dozens of research and exploration vessels from around the world set sail just off the French coastal city of Nice on Sunday (June 8, 2025) to kick off the third U.N. Ocean Conference and pay tribute to World Oceans Day.
The event, themed “Ocean Wonders,” saw the vessels sail across Nice’s Baie des Anges, or Bay of Angels, to spotlight the beauty and importance of the ocean while urging world leaders not to lose sight of its value as they make decisions about the planet’s future.
Thousands of delegates, including heads of state, scientists, and environmental advocates, are expected in Nice this week to confront growing threats to the ocean, and the need to transform pledges into protection.
The United Nations has called the threats a global emergency facing the world’s oceans as they confront rising temperatures, plastic pollution choking marine life, and relentless overexploitation of fish and other resources.
Just 2.7% of the global ocean is effectively protected from destructive activities like industrial fishing and deep-sea mining – far below the global goal of 30% by 2030.
