114,559 Citizens Call for Ocean Protection as OceanCare Delivers Petition to UN Special Envoy
OceanCare delivers “Because Our Planet Is Blue” petition with over 110,000 signatures to UN Special Envoy for the Ocean Peter Thomson on World Oceans Day, calling for urgent ocean protection action.
- Over 110,000 citizens from around the world call for transformative ocean action through the “Because Our Planet Is Blue” initiative.
- Petition delivered to Ambassador Peter Thomson, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean, highlighting public demand for decisive marine protection ahead of UNOC3.
- Six concrete demands include banning offshore oil and gas exploration, implementing vessel speed reduction, and establishing effective marine habitat protection.
On World Oceans Day, OceanCare has formally delivered its “Because Our Planet Is Blue” petition to Peter Thomson, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean. Along with 114,559 signatures from citizens around the world, Fabienne McLellan presented the Ambassador a symbolic gift: a globe with the oceans coloured red, representing the precarious state of our blue planet. The petition sends a powerful call for urgent action to address the ongoing marine crisis.
The handover comes at a critical moment as world leaders gather in Nice for the third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) beginning on Monday. The petition delivers a clear message from global citizens: governments must move beyond aspirational language and implement concrete measures that can restore ocean health.
Fabienne McLellan, Managing Director of OceanCare said:
“Today’s handover represents the voice of 114,559 people who are concerned about the continued decline of the Ocean. Ambassador Thomson has been a steadfast advocate for marine protection, and we are honoured to entrust him with these citizen voices as negotiators gather in Nice. The Ocean’s health has deteriorated significantly since the last UN Ocean Conference in 2022, despite international commitments. The response to our campaign has been extraordinary and demonstrates that people around the world understand we cannot afford to delay ocean protection any longer. Each signature represents someone who believes that decisive action is possible if governments have the political will to act. We are delivering these voices to the UN Ocean Conference with a clear message: the time for half-measures has passed.”
The petition centres on six transformative demands that address the root causes of ocean degradation: banning offshore oil and gas exploration, implementing mandatory vessel speed reduction to protect marine wildlife, prohibiting destructive fishing practices such as bottom trawling, adopting comprehensive rules to stop plastic pollution, agreeing on a deep-sea mining moratorium, and ensuring effective marine habitat protection and restoration.
Ambassador Thomson, a consistent champion of ocean protection in his role as UN Special Envoy, received the petition as delegates from around the world prepare for what many consider a make-or-break moment to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 14 by 2030.
Launched on World Oceans Day 2024, the “Because Our Planet Is Blue” campaign has mobilised support across multiple countries, reflecting growing public concern about the state of marine ecosystems. The petition signatures will be presented to negotiators at UNOC3 as evidence of the global demand for urgent ocean protection measures.
OceanCare will continue to advocate for effective conservation action and monitor the negotiations in Nice, assessing whether the conference delivers the transformative action needed to address the marine crisis and meet the expectations of the thousands of citizens calling for change.
Notes for editors
The “Because Our Planet Is Blue” campaign launched on World Oceans Day 2024, calling for six transformative ocean protection actions:
- Ban offshore oil and gas exploration and phase out existing fossil fuel extraction
- Implement mandatory measures to reduce vessel speed
- Ban destructive fisheries such as bottom trawling
- Adopt global rules to end plastic pollution, addressing the full life cycle of plastics
- Agree on a global moratorium on deep-sea mining
- Ensure effective protection of marine habitats and enforce marine conservation measures to restore ecosystems damaged by human activities
UN World Oceans Day 2025 (8 June) carries the theme “Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us,” emphasising the restoration and protection of marine ecosystems. The annual observance highlights the Ocean’s critical role in sustaining life on Earth.
Ambassador Peter Thomson serves as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean and has been a consistent advocate for marine protection and the implementation of SDG 14. He previously served as President of the UN General Assembly and has played a key role in advancing ocean conservation globally.
The third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) takes place 9-13 June 2025 in Nice, France, focusing on implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (“Life Below Water”). Current assessments indicate widespread failure to meet 2030 targets.
Publication
- OceanCare Declaration to UNOC3: Because Our Planet Is Blue
Image material
- Photos from the handover of signatures with Ambassador Peter Thomson
- Video statement by Ambassador Peter Thomson at the handover of signatures
- Because Our Planet Is Blue – Campaign visuals download