The COVID-19 crisis led to the cancellation of the United Nations conference on the oceans scheduled for Lisbon. In its place, the United Nations has set up a virtual conference: "Virtual Ocean dialogue".

Presidents and Ministers of State, over 50 government representatives, more than 50 workshop sessions, 630,000 "virtual" visitors, almost 1.5 million views on Instagram... This first edition opened up the debate to the greatest number of people, taking stock of current projects and understanding the road ahead to guarantee healthy oceans. With so many personalities, decision-makers and influencers from all over the world, so much political consensus on the ambition to preserve our oceans for the health of humanity, so many enthusiastic and energetic initiatives for the environment, so many passionate and talented young leaders... we think that everything will be fine and that the world will be able to avoid an ecological catastrophe for the oceans.

Surprisingly, as the conference drew to a close, the audience voted to give governments confidence in their actions.

Hummm! Encouraging, but so much remains to be done. Covid's way out of the crisis is to focus on economic recovery at all costs, leaving the oceans as the poor cousins of global mobilization. While a global consensus is emerging in favor of protecting the oceans, the financial means are still timid.

The "end of plastic waste" association has raised $1.5B where $20B is needed to tackle the plastic problem. Only 2.5% of the oceans are protected marine areas, whereas scientists are talking about a minimum of 30% by 2030.

Echos d'Oceans was able to follow a dozen sessions.

Finance

• Public money alone will not be enough to save the oceans. Public/private partnerships are needed. Ocean projects are developing new business models to motivate investors, whether institutional investors, major corporations or patrons of the arts. For example, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) can become profitable if their fishery resources are managed wisely. The value chain for recycled and bio-sourced plastics offers growing market opportunities. Start-ups are finding financing from venture capitalists to develop their innovations. To the theme of Finance, we could add the beginnings of the "blue carbon economy". Blue carbon is the carbon found in coastal vegetation, such as mangroves and algae like kelp. Cultivating or restoring these coastal zones can earn carbon "credits".

Science

• We lack unified scientific data. The Covid crisis shows just how much science is needed to help governments make decisions, to anticipate and plan. The oceanographic data available are scattered and fragmented, and there is no "opendata" platform where laboratories and scientists can share their data in a homogeneous way. Much remains to be discovered and analyzed: for example, only 6% of the oceans are mapped. The oceans need international laws and regulations: science must contribute to this by supplying governments with reliable, accurate data.

France was under-represented on these panels, despite being the world's second-largest nation in terms of maritime EEZ, just behind the USA. Yet we have so many great scientists and navigators. Cousteau is quoted at every world conference. We can only regret that France does not have more leadership in this field of Ocean Protection at world level.

We'll keep a very positive note of this conference, thanks to the young people: they showed talent as speakers, superb freedom of speech, a positive, think-out-of-the-box mentality, and a great deal of common sense and pragmatism. Daniela Fernadez, the young CEO and founder of the SOA (Sustainable Ocean Alliance) association, is a member of the "Friends of Oceans" group of influencers, which includes such eminent figures as Prince Albert of Monaco, prime ministers and heads of major international corporations.

Like the economic Davos, the Oceans Davos is confined to international exchanges between scientific experts, politicians and business leaders. The conference is not yet covered by the TV news, nor does it make the headlines. Despite the fact that pragmatic issues such as the economy, finance and jobs are being taken into account in the discussions, we can only wonder about the impact of this conference on the people and their governments: are the 3.5 billion people who depend on the oceans (fishing, food, tourism, etc.) aware of their fragility? Will the States unite for this global cause and find a consensus to give it real means? for example, by creating a Monetary Fund for the Oceans?