• Français : Faisons de la protection de l'Océan la norme, et non plus l’exception
• Español: Hagamos de la protección del Océano la norma, y no la excepción

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Petition launched by the Tara Ocean Foundation and some of the founding members of the #Letsbenicetotheocean movement: Varda group, Ocean and Climate Plateform, TBA21-Academy, Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy, and MedPAN.

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We, citizens, scientists, environmental organisations, cultural and artistic players committed to protecting the Ocean, call on the policymakers gathered at the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) in Nice in June 2025 to include the Protection Principle in the Nice Ocean Action Plan.

 

Why is the Protection Principle essential for the Ocean?

The Ocean is the cradle of life. It covers 71% of our planet and harbours an incredible diversity of life. It provides us with food and generates a large portion of the oxygen we breathe.

The Ocean is our strongest ally in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss.

It is our natural air conditioner, our oxygen reservoir, and the largest carbon sink on Earth.

For the Ocean to continue playing its role as a shield against climate change, it must remain healthy. The oxygen we breathe, the temperature of our planet, and our future all depend on the Ocean.

Yet, human activities threaten the Ocean, degrading its biodiversity and disrupting the delicate ecological balance essential for life on Earth.

This must change! We must truly protect the Ocean because it protects us.

Today, Ocean protection is most often the exception, while extractive, polluting, and destructive industries continue unchecked.

We propose to reverse this logic by establishing a paradigm shift: make Ocean protection the norm, no longer the exception.

It is the Protection Principle, based on existing international law conventions and texts:

• 👉 Beyond national jurisdictions, the Ocean must be protected by default, because in the Convention for the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) it is considered as a common heritage of humankind.
  
  
• 👉 Reversing the burden of proof: It should no longer be up to NGOs, scientists, or governments to prove that an activity is harmful, but rather up to those who wish to exploit the Ocean to demonstrate that their actions have no negative impact on marine ecosystems and Life.

It means that extractive and polluting industries would be required to prove that their ecological footprint does not harm marine life.

 

Why should this principle be included in the Nice Ocean Action Plan?

The 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) represents a historic opportunity to take a decisive step in Ocean governance.

France and Costa Rica, co-organisers of the conference, along with UN Member States, have expressed their ambition to revive strong political commitments and propose a vision for a thriving, healthy Ocean.

The Nice Ocean Action Plan will be adopted at the end of UNOC to ensure, we hope, concrete commitments.

By integrating the Protection Principle into the Nice Ocean Action Plan, we will take a major step toward its global recognition and progressive implementation worldwide.

Now is the time to act before irreversible damage is done to marine ecosystems and the essential services the Ocean provides.

We urge policymakers to enshrine this fundamental principle in the Nice Ocean Action Plan so that it can be translated into concrete commitments.

🌊📢 Who are we?

The Protection Principle is promoted by #Let’sBeNiceToTheOcean, a movement launched in November 2023 by the Varda Group, in collaboration with:

• Tara Ocean Foundation,
• Ocean & Climate Platform,
• TBA21-Academy,
• Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy,
• Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation,
• MedPAN.

Over 100 international civil society organisations, including players in research, science and the arts, have already joined the movement. 
www.letsbenicetotheocean.org

 

Let’s Act Now, Together!

We call on everyone to sign this petition to ensure that the Protection Principle is enshrined in the Nice Action Plan for the Ocean and that the voice of the Ocean is heard.

Together, let’s make Ocean protection the rule, no longer the exception!