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Greed Is Pushing Oceans Toward Environmental Collapse
A school of fish swims close to Los Islotes Island in La Paz, Mexico.
The ocean is under siege — and greed is to blame.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a stark warning on Tuesday, urging world leaders, scientists, and civil society groups to confront the powerful forces fueling the destruction of marine ecosystems. Speaking on the second day of the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3), held in Nice, France, he pointed to illegal fishing, plastic pollution, and the worsening impacts of climate change as key threats.
“We are in Nice on a mission — to save the ocean, to save our future,” Guterres declared at a press conference. He cautioned that a tipping point is fast approaching, beyond which recovery may become impossible.
“The clear enemy pushing our oceans toward collapse is greed,” he said. “Greed sows doubt, denies science, distorts truth, rewards corruption, and destroys life for profit. We cannot let greed dictate the fate of our planet.”
Guterres called for united global action against what he described as "profit-hungry forces," urging leaders and communities alike to reclaim the world’s oceans as a shared resource. “That is why we are here this week,” he said, “to stand in solidarity against those forces and reclaim what belongs to us all.”
Four Ocean Priorities
The Secretary-General outlined four urgent priorities for governments, business leaders, scientists, and fishers:
Transform Ocean Harvesting
Sustainable practices must replace exploitative ones. “It’s not just about fishing — it’s about how we fish,” Guterres said. He stressed the need to meet the global “30 by 30” target: conserving 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030.
Tackle Plastic Pollution
Guterres called for a phase-out of single-use plastics, improved recycling systems, and the swift conclusion of a legally binding global treaty to end plastic pollution by the end of this year.
Fight Climate Change at Sea
With COP30 in Brazil approaching, countries must submit bold climate plans aligned with the 1.5°C target. These plans must address all emissions, including those from maritime sectors.
Enforce the High Seas Treaty
He urged nations to ratify and implement the new BBNJ (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction) Treaty, which aims to protect marine biodiversity in international waters.
A Call for Global Commitment
Guterres called for the formation of a grand coalition — uniting governments, business leaders, scientists, and fishers — with concrete commitments and significant financial backing to support ocean conservation. “The ocean has given us so much,” he said. “It is time we returned the favor.”
No 'Wild West' in the Deep Sea
In response to press questions, Guterres also condemned the looming threat of deep-sea mining. He reiterated his warning from the opening day of the summit, stating that the deep ocean must not become a “Wild West” of unregulated exploitation. He expressed strong support for the International Seabed Authority’s ongoing efforts to regulate and manage this emerging industry responsibly.
Following the press conference, Guterres visited Nice’s historic Port Lympia and boarded the Santa Maria Manuela, a Portuguese four-masted schooner. There, he met with members of the Oceano Azul Foundation, a Lisbon-based organization dedicated to protecting and restoring the world’s ocean environments.