French President Emmanuel Macron, along with the Ocean Blue Foundation and Bloomberg Philanthropies, convened global leaders at the event, which featured the Eiffel Tower illuminated in blue to symbolize commitment to ocean conservation.

This summit responds to a call from UN Secretary-General António Guterres for immediate action to save the oceans, which was initiated during the Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga last summer.

The ultimate goal of the UN Ocean Conference is to establish agreements that promote sustainable and regenerative blue economies, fostering international cooperation for ocean conservation.

Among the proposals in the manifesto is a call for a legally binding instrument to reduce plastic production, which is expected to be discussed at the UN Environment Programme session in August 2025.

A manifesto launched at the event outlined five key commitments, including developing an international governance structure for oceans, combating pollution, establishing Marine Protected Areas, promoting a sustainable blue economy, and advancing ocean-related science.

The SOS Ocean summit took place in Paris on March 30-31, 2025, serving as a precursor to the upcoming United Nations ocean conference scheduled for June in Nice.

The summit aimed to highlight the critical state of the oceans, addressing pollution, rising sea levels, overfishing, and biodiversity erosion, while advocating for concrete actions to preserve marine ecosystems.

The first COP dedicated to the ocean is expected to focus on knowledge, protection, and resource sharing of over 60% of the world's marine area by the end of 2026.

As we face numerous threats to the ocean in 2025, including biodiversity loss and pollution, the summit is seen as a crucial step in mobilizing public awareness and engaging stakeholders in ocean conservation efforts.

The manifesto also urges a 10 to 15-year moratorium on deep-sea mining by countries represented in the International Seabed Authority until sufficient knowledge is available to make informed decisions.

To halt ocean biodiversity loss, the manifesto calls for measures such as reducing fishing subsidies, ensuring access for small-scale fisheries, and investing in alternative food production methods.

The summit is backed by significant organizations, reinforcing its importance for international discussions on ocean issues and the urgent need for collaborative action.