Dr. Arvind Kumar*
If the ocean could speak, what warnings would it give us about the future we are shaping?
Would it whisper of warming waters and dying coral, or cry out over rising tides and plastic-laden waves? The ocean—covering over 71% of our planet’s surface—is not only where life first began, but where it continues to be nurtured every day. It regulates the Earth’s climate, sustains vast biodiversity, and provides food and livelihoods for more than three billion people. For coastal and island nations, the ocean is more than a resource—it is a source of culture, identity, and security.
Yet today, this life-sustaining system is in peril. From rising temperatures and acidification to plastic and chemical pollution, ocean degradation is no longer a distant threat—it is a lived reality. Sea surface temperatures have reached record highs, and our oceans are now 30% more acidic than in pre-industrial times. The current global coral bleaching event has impacted 84% of reefs across 82 countries, endangering nearly a quarter of marine species. These are not abstract statistics; they are warning signals from the very heartbeat of our planet.
In response, global momentum is building. The High Seas Treaty offers new governance tools for international waters, while the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework aims to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030. Tools like Integrated Coastal Zone Management, Marine Spatial Planning, and SDG 14 offer a foundation. But frameworks alone are not enough—it is the sincerity and speed of implementation that will chart our future.
It is within this context that the India Water Foundation convened a High-Level Policy Dialogue on “Multi-sectoral Partnerships for the Conservation and Restoration of Marine and Coastal Ecosystems” virtually on June 11, 2025. Hosted as an official side event to the 2025 UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France, the dialogue sought to move beyond rhetoric, to bring science, policy, and community into one cohesive conversation.
A Dialogue Anchored in Urgency and Collective Responsibility
In opening the dialogue, I had the honour of reminding our distinguished participants that safeguarding our oceans is not the responsibility of one nation or one sector—it is a shared imperative for humanity. The global economy is deeply entangled with the ocean—worth an estimated $2.5 trillion annually, making it the world’s seventh-largest economy if treated as a nation. But we are witnessing a steady erosion of this wealth through ecosystem collapse, coral bleaching, overfishing, and plastic invasion. The cascading effects are already visible: declining fish stocks, food insecurity, displacement of coastal populations, and worsening inequalities.
This Dialogue was designed not merely as an academic exercise, but as a catalyst—to translate knowledge into policy and policy into transformative action. We underscored the need to institutionalize cross-sectoral, polycentric governance, align our actions with the Paris Agreement, CBD, and SDGs, and ensure that developing nations receive targeted support—financial, technological, and institutional—to meet these challenges head-on.
Shri Bharat Lal, Secretary General, National Human Rights Commission, India and Chair of the session, eloquently framed ocean degradation as a human rights issue. He noted that oceans absorb over 90% of excess heat from global warming, warning that coral reefs—vital to 25% of marine life—face near-total collapse if temperatures exceed 2°C. He outlined a clear roadmap grounded in collaboration, data-driven policies, rights-based governance, and outcome-oriented action, urging decisive, collective efforts. Are our national policies truly reflecting this urgency?
Our international colleagues brought valuable perspectives. Dr. Yutaka Michida, UN Ocean Decade Envoy, emphasized Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) as key to balancing conservation, traditional livelihoods, and offshore renewables. He urged the inclusion of natural capital in national accounting, warning that if we fail to value nature, we risk losing it. Are our economic systems prepared to reflect the real value of ocean ecosystems—and if not, what must change?
Adding to this systems perspective, Ms. Sinikinesh Beyene Jimma of UNEP called for land-sea integration, adaptive governance, and recognition of traditional knowledge, linking ocean health to food security and disaster resilience.
Dr. Rishi Sharma of FAO anchored the discussion in the role of aquatic foods for nutrition and climate goals, highlighting the low-carbon, high-impact potential of sustainable fisheries and aquaculture.
Dr. Essam Yassin Mohammed of WorldFish shared transformative examples from Asia and Africa, where community-led aquaculture and fisheries co-management have improved both ecosystems and livelihoods—particularly by empowering women and Indigenous communities.
Mr. Sanath Ranawana of the Asian Development Bank highlighted the economic case for coastal adaptation, showing that returns can be tenfold. He emphasized ADB’s $40 billion commitment to climate-resilient food systems and hybrid infrastructure that blends engineered and nature-based solutions. Are we directing enough public and private finance toward inclusive, nature-based coastal solutions?
Dr. Steffen Knodt, from Germany’s Ocean Decade Committee, spotlighted tools such as blue bonds and biodiversity credits to mobilize finance, while calling for greater capacity-building support for countries with strong intent but limited technical infrastructure.
Dr. Sanjiba Baliarsingh of INCOIS presented India’s leadership through cutting-edge ocean services—from coral bleaching alerts and tsunami warnings to wave energy mapping—that are helping coastal communities adapt in real time.
Closing the loop, Ms. Ine Moulaert of the Flanders Marine Institute shared how community-driven reef restoration in Belgium fosters ownership and local stewardship, with partnerships spanning citizens, scientists, and industry.
Toward a Shared Ocean Future
Ms. Shweta Tyagi, Chief Functionary, IWF who in the concluding segment synthesized the key takeaways and presented the following forward-looking recommendations based on the rich discussions during the event, moderated the session. She reaffirmed that restoring marine and coastal ecosystems is not a peripheral concern—it is central to climate adaptation, food and water security, sustainable development, and the realization of human rights. As we move beyond deliberation toward implementation, the pathway ahead must be rooted in integrated governance, scientific evidence, and inclusive engagement. Priority actions include strengthening transboundary cooperation through shared data protocols, unlocking blue finance mechanisms, and embedding equity and human rights—particularly for small-scale fishers, women, and Indigenous communities—into adaptation strategies. Institutional capacity-building, citizen science, and nature-based solutions such as mangrove and biogenic reef restoration must also be scaled. Additionally, I propose the creation of Ocean Data Trusts to enable transparent, co-governed sharing of marine data with fair compensation for Indigenous knowledge; a Blue Carbon Co-ownership Consortium to fund mangrove and seagrass restoration with local co-benefit through blockchain-tracked carbon credits; and an Ocean-Friendly Supply Chain Accelerator to unite industries and innovators in scaling solutions that reduce marine impacts. These measures, if pursued collectively, can ensure that ocean protection becomes a lived, shared, and sustained reality.
As we reflect on this dialogue and the ongoing negotiations in Nice, one truth stands out starkly— our oceans can no longer be at periphery, they need to be central. The ocean’s future is inseparable from our own—its decline is our warning, its recovery our hope. By choosing action over apathy, we can restore balance and prosperity for people and planet alike.
The time to act is now, before the tide of opportunity slips beyond our reach.
*Editor, Focus Global Reporter
