Since its launch in 2014, the Our Ocean conference has established itself as an essential event to galvanize international efforts to protect marine environments. On the occasion of its 10th edition, organized on April 29, 2025 in Busan (South Korea), the organizers announced a total of 133 billion dollars effectively mobilized in ten years for the benefit of ocean action. The conference highlighted the crucial issues of the current period, in particular the implementation of the High Seas Treaty and the ambitious 30×30 objective, which aims to preserve 30% of the oceans by 2030. Between 2014 and 2024, no less than 2,618 commitments were recorded, representing a financial volume of 160 billion dollars. Of these commitments, 43% have been finalized, 38% are in progress, while 18% remain to be initiated. The World Resources Institute (WRI) report reveals that the bulk of funding has focused on the link between oceans and climate, followed by the sustainable blue economy and the fight against sea pollution. The WRI also highlights that 42% of the marine protected areas created worldwide were announced as part of the Our Ocean conferences, or around 8.7 million km² – which corresponds to 2.4% of the total ocean surface. On the African continent, Morocco has distinguished itself as a committed spokesperson for the African group. The Kingdom pays particular attention to the protection of the oceans, making the blue economy a key lever of its sustainable development and growth strategy. In September 2023, Morocco took a new step by signing the United Nations Convention on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdictions (BBNJ), through its ambassador to the UN, Omar Hilale. This treaty aims to regulate the conservation and sustainable exploitation of marine resources located on the high seas, outside the exclusive economic zones of coastal States. Considering the sea as a fundamental pillar of its economic growth, Morocco launched in June 2022 a national strategy for the development of the blue economy covering the period 2022-2026. This plan is supported by a $350 million loan from the World Bank. In addition, a donation of $5 million was concluded on February 21, 2023 between the Moroccan Ministry of Economy and Finance and the World Bank to provide technical assistance for this strategy. This system gave rise to the creation of an interministerial commission and a technical committee (CIEB) responsible for steering the project. A strong commitment through the Mohammed VI Foundation Morocco is also strengthening its action through the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection, which actively participates in the United Nations Decade of Ocean Sciences for Sustainable Development (2021-2030). Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Hasnaa has been named patron of the Decade Alliance for Ocean Sciences. In this context, the #B7arblaplastic initiative, launched by the Foundation, is part of the first major challenge of the Decade: understanding and reducing marine pollution. With its 3,500 km of coastline and a maritime area of 1.2 million km², Morocco has leading strategic potential. Faced with the multiple current crises – climatic, water, food and energy – this natural wealth deserves increased attention and preservation, in the service of a sustainable future.
