A blog by Ailars David, Hub Leader and founder, Sustainable Ocean Alliance Tanzania
The 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC 3), held from 9th to 13th June 2025 in Nice, France, marked a historic moment in global ocean governance. The conference became the stage where the international community celebrated reaching 50 ratifications of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, commonly referred to as the High Seas Treaty. This milestone moved the Treaty significantly closer to its official entry into force reaching 50 ratifications and reinforcing global commitment to protecting marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
I am a marine scientist and Marine Conservation Warden at Mafia Island Marine Park under Marine Parks and Reserves Tanzania. I also serve as the Hub Leader and Founder of Sustainable Ocean Alliance Tanzania, a youth-led NGO and official SOA hub working to empower youth and local coastal communities to restore ocean health and promote sustainability. I joined the conference as an official delegate from the Government of Tanzania, representing Marine Parks and Reserves Tanzania, while also proudly engaging as part of the global SOA youth network. My participation reflected both my professional role in marine conservation and my commitment to amplifying youth voices in ocean governance. As a young marine scientist, I aimed to bridge policy and youth-led action to ensure inclusive, future-focused decisions for the High Seas.
Youth had a strong presence and meaningful engagement throughout the conference. Far from being observers, young delegates were active contributors in panel discussions, fellowships, networking sessions, and advocacy spaces. Their participation helped shape conversations on the future of the High Seas and reinforced the importance of intergenerational equity in ocean governance.
A key moment was the side event titled “Multistakeholder Cooperation for the High Seas”, where representatives from governments, civil society, scientists, Indigenous communities, and youth came together to explore how cross-sector collaboration can support the effective implementation of the BBNJ Agreement. Speaking during this session, Ailars David, Marine Conservation Warden at Marine Parks and Reserves Tanzania and Hub Leader of SOA Tanzania, emphasized:
“Youth are not just future leaders we are current actors in the protection of the High Seas. We have the tools to communicate the High Seas Treaty to the public through digital media, content creation, and science communication. But we must go beyond outreach; youth must be involved as advocates, scientists, and decision-makers. We need to be included from the very beginning in research, implementation, and governance so we can grow with the process, understand the journey of solutions, and be fully equipped to protect the high seas now and into the future.”
Throughout the conference, youth organizations and movements especially those under the umbrella of the Sustainable Ocean Alliance and the High Seas Alliance consistently pushed for stronger youth inclusion and visibility in the Treaty’s implementation. They called for accessible capacity-building opportunities, youth-led monitoring of BBNJ progress, and the formal integration of youth voices into national and regional ocean governance frameworks.
The BBNJ Agreement also opens up unique opportunities for youth to grow and lead in ocean conservation, policy, and science. Young people can be trained in High Seas scientific research and marine biodiversity monitoring, becoming the next generation of BBNJ scientists. There is space for youth to influence national and international policy by engaging in dialogues, contributing to strategic action plans, and serving as youth envoys or delegates in intergovernmental negotiations. Youth can also take initiative by organizing national advocacy campaigns, producing multimedia content to raise public awareness, and creating knowledge platforms in their own languages to educate communities about the BBNJ Treaty.However, to fully participate in the BBNJ process, youth need more than passion we need support. There is a growing call for increased training and mentoring opportunities, including fellowships, scholarships, and internships focused on the High Seas and international marine law. Youth demand meaningful representation at the decision-making table, not just as tokens, but as informed, resourced, and empowered partners. To unlock our full potential, we need governments and institutions to invest in long-term programs that build youth leadership in science, diplomacy, and conservation. Without addressing these needs, implementation of the treaty will remain incomplete and unjust.
So what can a young person do to champion the BBNJ Agreement at the national level?
First, youth can engage directly with decision-makers to advocate for national ratification of the Treaty.This can be done by participating in public consultations, sending letters to relevant ministries, or organizing youth-led policy dialogues to raise awareness. Secondly, youth can translate the
complex language of the Treaty into accessible formats through videos, infographics, blog posts, or school presentations to help communities understand what the BBNJ Agreement is and why it matters. Third, youth can collaborate with civil society organizations and research institutions to contribute to marine science, especially in areas related to ocean conservation, genetic resources, and environmental impact assessments. Lastly, youth can build or join national and regional networks focused on High Seas protection, allowing them to share updates, track progress, and collectively call for transparency and accountability in the implementation process.
UNOC 3 demonstrated that the momentum for protecting our global ocean is real, and youth are part of that wave. The BBNJ Agreement offers an unprecedented opportunity to safeguard marine biodiversity and promote equity in ocean governance. As the treaty moves toward entry into force, I invite all young people to continue to raise their voices, act boldly, and hold governments accountable. The High Seas have found their defenders and many of them are young. Lastly a word to our world leaders remember “we didn’t inherit this planet rather we borrowed it from our children” we need to strengthen protection in the high seas via ratification of the High Seas Treaty and time to act for our shared ocean is now.