Core Points - The third United Nations Ocean Conference opened on June 9 in Nice, France, marking the largest and highest-level ocean conference in recent years [2][3] - The BBNJ agreement, which aims to protect marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, has seen a significant increase in the number of ratifying countries, reaching 50 [1][6][7] - The conference produced the "Nice Ocean Action Plan," including a political declaration and over 800 voluntary commitments from various stakeholders [4] Group 1: BBNJ Agreement - The BBNJ agreement fills a governance gap by providing a framework for establishing marine protected areas in international waters, which currently account for less than 2% of the ocean [1][7] - As of the conference, 31 countries had ratified the agreement, with an additional 19 countries ratifying it during the conference, leaving only 10 more needed for it to come into effect [6][7][8] - The French President's special envoy projected that by September, there would be 70 ratifications, allowing for the first conference of parties to be held by 2028 [8] Group 2: Conference Participation and Outcomes - The conference attracted 15,000 representatives, including 55 heads of state and government, indicating a heightened global focus on ocean protection [3][4] - The "Nice Ocean Action Plan" aims to unify countries in urgent action for ocean protection, although it lacks binding commitments [4] - The conference also highlighted the need for precaution in deep-sea mining, with 37 countries advocating for a pause or ban on such activities due to environmental concerns [9][10]