FAO Director-General highlights science, solutions and partnerships at UN Ocean Conference

Nice, France - FAO Director-General QU Dongyu participated today in a series of high-level engagements at the United Nations Ocean Conference where FAO is playing a key role with its technical work on fisheries and aquaculture and in relation to crucial international agreements.

The Director-General addressed Ocean Action Panel 5: Achieving SDG 14.4, which focused on sustainable fish stock management. He underscored the critical role of science, innovation and international cooperation in ensuring that aquatic food systems continue to feed a growing global population while protecting biodiversity.

“Since 1950, FAO has been supporting global efforts to collect and analyze fisheries and aquaculture data, and provides direct support to its Members on the conservation and sustainable development of their aquatic food systems,” the Director-General said.

He underscored FAO’s central role in shaping the global governance framework by negotiating key international instruments and guidelines, such as the FAO Fish Stocks Agreement, the Port State Measures Agreement, and the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries.

Landmark fisheries report

Earlier Wednesday, Qu participated in a launch event for the 2025 edition of FAO’s “Review of the State of World Marine Fishery Resources”—the most comprehensive assessment of global marine fisheries to date. Developed with input from over 650 experts across 92 countries, the report covers more than 2,500 marine fish stocks and presents a mixed picture of global sustainability.

The assessment reveals that over 80 percent of the fish stocks in several FAO ocean regions are classified as sustainably exploited, and an estimated 77 percent of the total volume of fish landed for human consumption comes from biologically sustainable stocks.

As part of FAO’s broader commitment to ocean governance, Qu also signed a Memorandum of Understanding between FAO and the International Seabed Authority (ISA). The agreement paves the way for closer collaboration on deep-sea ecosystems, biodiversity, capacity development and responsible resource use in line with the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.

The MoU supports joint action on knowledge-sharing, marine spatial planning and technology transfer to address global challenges such as pollution, habitat degradation and unsustainable practices.

Spearheading FAO’s participation in Nice

During the Conference. the Director-General has taken part in multiple events advancing ocean sustainability. On Sunday, he marked World Oceans Day at the immersive “La Baleine” pavilion in Nice, visiting the FAO exhibit on Blue Transformation and on Monday, Qu addressed the FAO 80th Anniversary event, themed “From legacy to leadership: Youth-led solutions for ocean sustainability”.

The event brought together young researchers and ocean advocates to shape an outcome statement on the future of aquatic food systems, published via the World Food Forum.

Earlier the same day, the Director-General opened the high-level IMO side event “Sustainable Shipping: our ocean – our obligation – our opportunity”, which focused on the role of the shipping sector in supporting marine biodiversity, ocean health and sustainable development. The event provided a platform for discussion on aligning maritime transport with global sustainability goals.

Later, he participated in the high-level side event “The Ocean We Depend On: Achieving SDG 14 Through Sustainable Governance”, hosted aboard the vessel, Statsraad Lehmkuhl. The event marked the 50th anniversary of the FAO–Norway EAF-Nansen Programme and brought together government officials, youth leaders, scientists and development partners to explore how ocean science, inclusive policies and international cooperation can help achieve SDG 14.

As part of his engagements, Qu also held a bilateral meeting with the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean, further reinforcing FAO’s commitment to advancing global ocean action through dialogue and strategic partnerships.

The Director-General concluded the day with a visit to the French oceanographic research vessel Thalassa, where he met with internationally renowned chefs committed to promoting sustainable seafood and responsible consumption.