In June, the United Nations Ocean Conference 2025, United Nations Trade and Development Agency, UNCTAD emphasized that the oceans are all necessary for life by maintaining biodiversity, regulating climate and generating oxygen.
The oceans also have large -scale unused economic capacity that is capable of providing food security, generating employment and running global trade.
“In 2023, the amount of exports of ocean goods and services reached $ 2.2 trillion, so it is growing very fast,” David Vivus, the 5th United Nations Ocean at Geneva, is the UNCTAD for trade, environment and sustainable development branch on the edge of the stage.
According to the United Nations Agency, The world’s ocean economies have increased by 250 percent since 1995.Removing the global economy, which increased 190 percent in the same period.
Growing tide of capacity
South-south trade is growing behind this development, where fresh fish exports have increased by 43 percent; Processed fish exports have increased by 89 percent from 2021 to 2023,
Today, 600 million people are constant and therefore dependent on the fishing industry alone, most of them are in developing countries.
According to UNCTAD, two-thirds of the sea-living species have been identified so far, providing the possibility of discovering plastic alternatives such as new antibiotics, low-carbon foods and other bio-based ingredients, which alone offer $ 10.8 billion opportunity.
In 2025, this year the maritime biotechnology market has increased by more than 50 percent compared to 2023.
Cigras, which developed 70 million years ago from terrestrial grass, is one of the most diverse and valuable marine ecosystems on the planet.
Looming danger
However, despite this ability, the ocean economy faces imminent hazards from poor governance, underwestion and climate shock.
These include our already warm oceans, rising sea levels and extreme weather threats that endanger marine ecosystems, fish population, coastal infrastructure and shipping routes, especially for coastal communities.
And while most national climate schemes do not take into account the ocean economy, Mr. Vivas of Unctad outlined its importance in achieving the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. The estimated 11 percent of all emissions worldwide are caused by sea -based activities,
Fall into the sea
Beyond climate -related effects, the disgusting underfunding industry for ocean protection and harmful practices further endanger.
“While the oceans represent 70 percent of biosphere, less than one percent of global development assistance is invested in its conservation and sustainable use,” Mr. Vivas told reporters in Geneva.
To protect underwater life, universally agreed to achieve $ 175 billion to achieve a continuous development target 14, yet contributed only $ 4 billion from national funds, philanthropists and private investment, which is the lowest stability target (SDG).
Yoga “is no less than peanuts; basically, politicians are not investing their money where they have their mouths,” Mr. Vivas said. “This vast part of the planet is completely invisible in terms of permanent-use protection for future generations.”
This is unlike $ 22 billion invested in harmful subsidies in the global fishing industry, which contributes to overfining.
Obstacles to limit the capacity of the maritime economy include exceptionally high tariffs between developing countries. While high-ion countries apply 3.2 percent tariffs on fish products, developing countries apply average 14 percent tariffs, they overshadow business.
Calhau, aligns with the goals of promoting the fazenda de Camarão shrimp form, permanent agriculture and fisheries in Cabo Verde.
Sown by innovation
It is advisable to call for action between United Nations agencies:
- National climate and biodiversity schemes integrate ocean-based areas
- Reduce trade obstacles
- Extension of data collection on ocean emissions, trade and investment
- End harmful subsidy
- Finalize
For the need for immediate progress, the UN agency’s Ocean Forum will launch the initiatives that will include a fresh ocean trade database to help analyze the rapidly developed area, which is a proposal for the United Nations Task Force on Marine Algae Development and a project on evidence-based ocean climate action.
The latter, especially the Caribbean small islands, which incorporating the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the UNCTAD and the United Nations, use artificial intelligence (AI) and data innovations to support developing states.
