FAO at 5th UN Ocean Forum

Geneva - The 5th UN Ocean Forum on Trade-related Aspects of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Ocean Economy, Trade Policy and the Climate and Development Nexus took place from 3 to 5 March 2025 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva and, as one of the co-organizers, FAO actively contributed to the deliberations. During the different sessions, FAO highlighted its fisheries and aquaculture related work within the context of its
Blue Transformation Vision.

Audun Lem, Deputy Director of FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Division (NFI) joined the session "UN and Partner Agencies: Current Trade-Related Trends in Ocean Economy." The session reflected on the background note titled "Ocean economy, trade policy and the climate and development nexus" which was jointly prepared by FAO and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Lem underlined the importance of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, considering the growth experienced over the years, and he noted that the sector is highly globalized with a substantial share in international trade. Lem also stressed the critical role of trade and multilateralism in further enhancing the blue economy for the benefit of all.

FAO organized a side event "Social sustainability of the fisheries and aquaculture value chains." Shirlene Anthonysamy, FAO Fishery Officer moderated the session and Dominique Burgeon, Director of FAO Liaison Office in Geneva delivered the opening remarks. The session provided an opportunity to reflect on the practical application of the FAO Guidance on Social Responsibility in the Fisheries and Aquaculture Value Chains which is currently under development.  In particular, the session focused on how the FAO Guidance can help various stakeholders in the fisheries and aquaculture sector integrate its principles and address the challenges faced by regions.

Jennifer Gee, FAO Fishery Officer spoke at the side event organized by UNCTAD and the Permanent Mission of Chile to the WTO on"Women navigating the Blue Economy - A conversation on challenges and opportunities in the context of value addition". The side event explored how value addition in blue economy sectors can create opportunities for women, while addressing the challenges and barriers they may face in accessing and benefiting from these opportunities. Gee reflected on FAO's work based on the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication and highlighted the importance of gender transformative approaches in addressing the challenges associated with women’s participation in fisheries and aquaculture value chains, by giving concrete examples of FAO’s work in Senegal, Ghana, and Indonesia.

FAO also organized an exhibition at the Marine-based Products and Services (MAPS) Expo, presenting the achievements of the GLOBEFISH project (i) in fostering transparency, market access, and traceability and (ii) bolstering the global competitiveness of developing countries and economies in transition by providing up-to-date information and analysis, facilitating dialogue among stakeholders worldwide, and offering platforms for capacity-building. The exhibition also provided an opportunity to promote FAO’s 80th anniversary. Further information on the Forum and the MAPS Expo can be found here.

The 5th UN Ocean Forum on Trade-related Aspects of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Ocean Economy, Trade Policy and the Climate and Development Nexus

The 5th UN Ocean Forum on Trade-related Aspects of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Ocean Economy, Trade Policy and the Climate and Development Nexus was held ahead of the 2025 UN Ocean Conference (UNOC), scheduled to take place from 9 June to 13 June 2025 in Nice, France. The deliberations at the Forum aimed to feed into the outcomes and preparations of UNOC. 

Overall, the Forum highlighted the importance of trade for the sustainability of oceans; decarbonizing maritime sectors;  a "Blue Deal" for funding; and innovation and data for impact;  and scaling up seaweed and marine industries. At the sessions, calls have been made to urgently ratify the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction and the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies; and to conclude the second wave of fisheries subsidies negotiations and the negotiations concerning the internationally legally binding instrument on plastic pollution.