UN Ocean Conference

Last week, Senckenberg Nature Research’s Prof. Dr. Angelika Brandt and SOSA’s Dr. Alica Torkov attended the 2025 UN Ocean Conference—an essential global gathering of over 15,000 participants including governments, organizations, and scientists committed to conserving and sustainably using our oceans, seas, and marine resources (in support of UN Sustainable Development Goal 14).

This year’s theme, “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean,” aligns closely with SOSA’s mission. At SOSA, we believe that sustainable ocean use starts with understanding: the species that inhabit marine ecosystems, and how development affects them. That’s why we’re committed to advancing taxonomy and assessing the extinction risk of marine invertebrates.

At the conference, we expanded our global network, forging new partnerships with like-minded organizations and initiatives. We hosted the session “Building Alliances to combat biodiversity loss” on the Research Vessel, METEOR. This session brought together over 30 participants  from many organizations like DOSI, IUCN, Ocean Census or MBARI—all committed to collaborative solutions for safeguarding ocean biodiversity.

Participants of the “Building Alliances to combat biodiversity loss” session.

Together with our delegation partner, the Okeanos Foundation for the Sea, we also hosted an event “From Active Hope to Action” on the catamaran, Vaka. The participants were mainly young people from Pacific island states such as Hawaii, Tahiti, and the Cook Islands. Along with our special guest Prof. Dr. Antje Boetius, the new director and CEO of MBARI, we discussed the benefits and impact of unusual alliances, the goals of UNOC young people consider most important, and their wish to be more involved in decision-making processes.

Dr. Alica Torkov shared her key takeaways from the week:

  1. Our strength comes from our alliances. The number of Marine Protected Areas has risen from 4% to 11%, – a trend we want to see continue and accelerate – but also one that requires the collaboration of many partners. The more ocean experts we unite—from science, policy, and communication—the greater our impact.
  2. Know before we act. To date, only about 0.001% of the deep ocean floor has been visually explored, and more than 90% of marine species remain unknown to science. The decisions made at the UN Ocean Conference directly impact marine biodiversity. That’s why it’s essential to keep emphasizing the critical role of taxonomy in understanding and protecting life in the ocean.
  3. Oceans impact everyone, inclusivity is key. Although guests from all over the world participate in UNOC, the needs of entire groups are still not adequately considered in decision-making. For the sustainability of our ocean, we must include the perspectives of indigenous peoples and inhabitants of island states who are particularly affected by the sea level rise caused by climate change. Furthermore, we urgently need to create platforms where young people can be heard, because they are the ones who will bear the consequences of our decisions the longest and must be actively involved in shaping their future.
Prof. Dr. Antje Boetius speaks at the “From Active Hope to Action” session.

A healthy ocean is the foundation of human well-being, economic resilience, and climate stability. But our oceans are in crisis—and responding requires collective action across disciplines, borders, and sectors. Conferences like this are not just gatherings; they’re catalysts for the kind of cooperation our planet needs. Thank you to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs for organizing such an amazing event!

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Antonius Scheffler
Dr. Alica Torkov presents the SOSA project at the “Building Alliances to combat biodiversity loss” session aboard the research vessel, METEOR.
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Antonius Scheffler
Prof. Dr. Angelika Brandt shares the AleutBio expedition and project at the”Building Alliances to combat biodiversity loss” session.
UN Ocean Conference Opening Session.
UN Ocean Conference Public Expo.
Prof. Dr. Angelika Brandt and Dr. Alica Torkov in front of the METEOR, the vessel on which they held on of their sessions.
Participants from the the “From Active Hope to Action” session where young people shared the issues most important to them.