Source: Government of Canada News (2)
June 13, 2025
Nice, France – Canada’s oceans are facing increasing impacts from climate change, including species decline, biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation, harm from aquatic invasive species, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and the effects from waste and other pollutants. In response to these challenges, Canada is collaborating internationally with maritime nations across the globe to better protect our oceans for present and future generations.
From June 9-13, Fisheries and Oceans Canada led the Canadian delegation at the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), which took place in Nice, France. During the Conference, Canada led on a series of events including:
- An Ocean Action Panel co-chaired with Palau, leading thoughtful discussions on advancing sustainable ocean governance, conservation and responsible use of marine resources for our shared global oceans.
- An Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing Action Alliance (IUU-AA) event to reinforce the importance of transparency while improving efforts to govern, enforce and work with international partners to combat IUU fishing. As the current chair of the IUU Fishing Action Alliance, Canada recognizes the challenges of IUU fishing and its devastating impacts on fish stocks, ecosystems and economies around the world.
- The launch of a High Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean, co-led alongside Panama, which was endorsed by 35 other countries. This Coalition marks a significant global commitment to reduce ocean noise, a key threat to ecosystem health and marine biodiversity around the world.
Canada also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Kingdom to strengthen our long history of cooperation on the sustainable use of marine resources, ocean protection and preservation, and ocean science.
By continuing to collaborate with international partners to better understand the environmental changes we are seeing in the global ocean and create more economic opportunities for coastal and inland communities, Canada can help contribute to a more sustainable and prosperous blue economy for all.