While the oceans are facing increasing pressure from climate change, overfishing, and plastic pollution, France is trying to redefine its role as a maritime power. On the occasion of the third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) in Nice almost exactly one year ago, the French government announced a series of far-reaching measures aimed at significantly expanding the protection of marine ecosystems. Central to this is the creation of the largest marine protected area in the world in French Polynesia, as well as new initiatives against plastic pollution in the Mediterranean region.
The announcements were not only important for environmental policy. They also have a geopolitical dimension: France has the second largest exclusive economic zone in the world and increasingly sees itself as a leading player in an international ocean policy that must balance biodiversity and economic exploitation.
The largest marine protected area in the world
The most spectacular step concerns the expansion of marine protection in French Polynesia. From now on, approximately 4.8 million square kilometers of sea area there must be protected. This means the protected area covers almost the entire exclusive economic zone of the Pacific overseas territory.
Particularly remarkable is the extent of the so-called strictly protected areas. In approximately 900,000 square kilometers, human interventions will be heavily restricted or completely prohibited. The goal is to safeguard sensitive habitats from the impacts of industrial exploitation and to provide endangered species with a refuge.
The size emphasizes the importance of the project: the strictly protected area is more than one and a half times the size of France itself. Worldwide, there are so far only a few comparable protected areas of this scale.
For Paris, this measure also has a strategic significance. The French overseas territories give the country an exceptional maritime presence in all the oceans of the world. Especially in the Pacific Ocean, control and sustainable management of marine resources is becoming increasingly important in light of rising geopolitical rivalries.
More protection in French waters
In addition to the measures in Polynesia, the government announced a comprehensive expansion of marine protection throughout the entire French territory. By the end of 2026, 78 percent of French sea areas should fall under some form of protection. The share of strictly protected areas should increase from the current 4.8 percent to 14.8 percent.
Also in the European waters of France, the situation will change significantly. There, the share of strictly protected areas must grow from only 0.1 percent to four percent. With this, the government is responding to criticism from numerous scientists and environmental organizations who have pointed out for years that many existing protected areas only exist on paper.
In fact, many French marine protected areas have so far allowed intensive economic activities. This gave the international impression that the protection status often did not come with effective restrictions.
The new rules are intended to counter this criticism. Especially bottom trawl fishing will be more strictly controlled. This fishing method is considered particularly problematic because it can sustainably damage coral reefs, sponge communities, and seagrass beds. These habitats belong to the most species-rich ecosystems of the oceans and also play an important role in binding carbon.
Tackling the Plastic Flood
A second focus of the French initiative is combating plastic pollution. It is estimated that the oceans today contain millions of tons of plastic waste. Especially the Mediterranean region is particularly affected, as it is considered one of the most heavily polluted seas in the world due to limited water renewal.
Within the framework of the Barcelona Convention, the countries around the Mediterranean Sea have agreed to intensify their efforts to reduce the inflow of plastic. France wants to take on a coordinating role in this.
The focus is on promoting circular economy models. The Paris-supported initiative „Circe.Med“ brings together more than 200 actors from science, business, and politics. The goal is to reduce the production of plastic waste at the source, expand recycling structures, and prevent waste from entering the sea via rivers.
This approach follows an insight that has increasingly gained recognition in recent years: cleaning contaminated oceans is technically complex and expensive. It is more sustainable to prevent the inflow of plastic from the outset.
International signaling effect
The French announcements are closely linked to the global biodiversity goals of the United Nations. Central is the so-called „30×30“ goal. By 2030, at least 30 percent of the land and sea surfaces worldwide should be protected.
For now, the share of protected ocean surfaces is significantly lower. However, the commitments presented in Nice by various states could considerably increase the global protection percentage. France is trying to act as a pioneer and encourage other countries to take similar measures.
The strategy follows a pattern already seen in international climate policy: individual countries set ambitious standards and hope to create a dynamic that prompts other governments to take action.
Whether this approach will be successful remains uncertain. Many developing and emerging countries point to the lack of financial resources and the economic importance of fisheries for their populations. Therefore, international negotiations on binding protection rules are proceeding with difficulty.
The real test, however, only begins after the political announcements. Marine protected areas are only effective if they are effectively monitored and enforced. Especially in remote regions of the Pacific Ocean, this poses significant logistical challenges. Satellite monitoring, international cooperation, and sufficient financial resources will be crucial to prevent illegal fishing and other violations.
Nevertheless, the UN Ocean Conference in Nice represents an important turning point. France thereby indicates that the protection of the oceans should no longer be seen as a marginal issue within environmental policy, but as a central task of international governance. Given the increasing pressure on marine ecosystems, it may turn out that the future of global environmental protection will be decided not only on land but especially in the world’s oceans.
Andreas M. Brucker