2025: The Year of Oceans—Three Milestone Events Shaping Our Blue Planet 

Summary: 2025 is a transformative year for ocean governance, marked by three landmark events: the UN BBNJ Convention entering into force, new WTO fisheries subsidies regulations taking effect, and the adoption of a historic political declaration at the 2025 UN Ocean Conference. Together, these milestones are reshaping the future of ocean sustainability for governments, businesses, and communities worldwide. 

It’s clear 2025 will be remembered as a watershed year for ocean governance and sustainability. Three historic milestones are converging: the entry into force of the United Nations BBNJ Convention, the implementation of new WTO regulations on fisheries subsidies and the successful conclusion of the 2025 UN Ocean Conference, which adopted a landmark political declaration. Together, these events are setting a new course for the stewardship of our oceans, with profound implications for governments, businesses and communities worldwide.  

The UN BBNJ Convention: Protecting Biodiversity Beyond Borders

The United Nations Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) is a groundbreaking treaty that entered into force in 2025, after years of negotiation and almost two years of waiting to accumulate enough ratifications. The BBNJ Convention addresses the urgent need to manage and protect the high seas—areas of the ocean that lie outside any single nation’s jurisdiction and have long been vulnerable to overexploitation and environmental harm. 

The Convention establishes a comprehensive legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in these international waters. Key provisions include the creation of marine protected areas, mandatory environmental impact assessments for activities that could harm marine life and mechanisms for sharing the benefits of marine genetic resources (a critical aspect for the future development of the pharma and food industries). For the first time, countries are legally bound to cooperate on the stewardship of the high seas, balancing economic interests such as fishing, shipping and bioprospecting with the imperative to protect fragile marine ecosystems.  

For businesses, especially those in shipping, fisheries and marine biotechnology, the BBNJ Convention means adapting to new compliance requirements and participating in global efforts to ensure the long-term health of ocean resources. It also opens opportunities for innovation in sustainable ocean technologies and practices, as companies seek to align with the new international standards. 

Even for the tech sector, the BBNJ Convention has important implications as it recognizes introduces new requirements for environmental impact assessments and coordination to minimize ecological disruption. Equally important, on deep-sea mining, the BBNJ framework could streamline multilateral action and require stricter oversight to ensure that mining activities do not harm vulnerable marine environments.  

WTO Fisheries Subsidies Regulation: Tackling Overfishing at Its Source

Another major milestone in 2025 is the entry into force of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) new regulations on fisheries subsidies after obtaining enough ratification for it to finally enter into force. For decades, government subsidies have contributed to overfishing and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, undermining the sustainability of global fish stocks and threatening the livelihoods of millions. 

The WTO agreement, the result of more than 20 years of negotiation, sets out clear rules to eliminate harmful subsidies that contribute to overcapacity and overfishing. It also introduces transparency requirements, obliging countries to report their fisheries subsidies and activities. By targeting subsidies that support IUU fishing and unsustainable practices, the agreement aims to restore balance to marine ecosystems and promote fair competition in the global seafood market. 

Similar to BBNJ Convention, these new rules mean a shift toward more sustainable business models. Companies will need to ensure their supply chains are free from IUU fishing and that their operations comply with stricter international standards. While this may require significant adjustments in the short term, the long-term benefits include healthier fish stocks, more resilient coastal economies and a level playing field for responsible businesses. 

The 2025 UN Ocean Conference: A Unified Global Commitment

The 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference, held earlier this year, marked a pivotal moment for global ocean action. Bringing together leaders from over 170 countries, as well as scientists, businesses and civil society, the conference concluded with the adoption of a unified political declaration. While not legally binding, this declaration represents a powerful commitment to urgent and expanded action to conserve and sustainably use the ocean, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. 

The conference served as a platform for announcing new commitments, sharing innovative solutions and forging partnerships across sectors. It highlighted the vital role of the private sector in driving ocean sustainability, from investing in sustainable seafood and shipping to developing ocean-friendly technologies and supporting coastal resilience. The declaration calls for accelerated action on Sustainable Development Goal 14 and recognizes the interconnectedness of ocean health with food security, jobs, trade and climate resilience. 

Full Steam Ahead With the Implantation of the Annex VI of MARPOL

In 2025, significant progress has been made toward the implementation of the latest amendments to MARPOL (International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Annex VI, which are set to enter into force on August 1, 2025. These amendments, introduce enhanced requirements for the collection and reporting of fuel oil consumption data. Ships will now be required to provide more granular data, including detailed breakdowns of fuel consumption by consumer type (such as main engines and auxiliary engines), fuel type and operational status (including periods when the ship is not underway). Shipowners and operators have been preparing for these changes by updating their Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plans (SEEMP) Part II, which must be revised and approved by the end of 2025 to ensure compliance. These developments mark a pivotal step in the IMO’s ongoing efforts to enhance transparency, accountability and environmental performance across the global shipping sector 

How Did We Get Here?

The breakthrough ocean agreements of 2025 were made possible by an unprecedented alignment between government coalitions, civil society and the private sector. A key driver was the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, a unique coalition of world leaders committed to bridging science and policy for healthier oceans. The Panel played a catalytic role by commissioning cutting-edge research, setting ambitious policy targets—such as protecting 30% of the global ocean by 2030—and fostering consensus among governments ahead of the BBNJ Convention and WTO fisheries agreements. Its work provided a trusted platform for sharing best practices, aligning national priorities and galvanizing action on sustainable ocean management. 

Likewise, civil society organizations brought essential scientific expertise, public advocacy and grassroots perspectives to the negotiating table, ensuring the agreements addressed both ecological needs and community interests. Meanwhile, the private sector stepped up with concrete commitments—shipping companies pledged to decarbonize fleets, seafood firms invested in traceable, sustainable supply chains and financial institutions developed new funding models for ocean action. 

Remaining Gaps  

Despite the momentum of 2025, one major gap remains: the world has not yet reached a binding agreement to end plastic pollution. The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), tasked with developing a global plastics treaty, failed to finalize a deal during its most recent session. While the 2025 UN Ocean Conference saw renewed calls for urgent action and highlighted the devastating impact of plastic pollution on marine life and coastal communities, consensus on a legally binding instrument proved elusive. As a result, attention is now turning to the upcoming United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 7), where many expect renewed negotiations and political pressure to deliver a robust global framework to tackle plastic pollution. The outcome at UNEA 7 will be critical, as the world looks to close this gap and ensure that ocean protection efforts are not undermined by the continued flow of plastics into the seas. 

What Is Next

The convergence of these three milestones in 2025 is already reshaping the landscape for ocean governance and business. 

Short-term impacts include increased regulatory scrutiny and the need for rapid adaptation by businesses operating in ocean-related sectors. Companies must now comply with new international standards under the BBNJ Convention and WTO fisheries rules, prompting investments in traceability, sustainable sourcing and environmental monitoring. The outcomes of the UN Ocean Conference are catalyzing new public-private partnerships and funding opportunities for innovative ocean solutions. 

Furthermore, in the longer term, promise to be transformative. By safeguarding marine biodiversity and curbing overfishing, these agreements lay the foundation for resilient ocean ecosystems and sustainable blue economies. Businesses that embrace these changes early will be well-positioned to lead in emerging markets for sustainable seafood, eco-friendly shipping and marine biotechnology. Moreover, the global focus on ocean health will drive consumer demand for transparency and responsibility, rewarding companies that prioritize sustainability. 

Ultimately, 2025 is not just the “Year of Oceans” in name—it is the year when the world took decisive action to secure the future of our blue planet. For businesses, governments and communities alike, these milestones offer both a challenge and an unprecedented opportunity to chart a course toward a thriving, sustainable ocean economy.