Turning The Tides

A YEAR AGO, I found myself standing on the sandy beaches of Madagascar, flanked by two incredible and inspiring women—one a seasoned conservationist, the other my 15-year-old daughter. As we watched crabs scurry across the shore, we were reminded of the boundless life the ocean nurtures.

From the Mediterranean to Madagascar, the ocean and seas stabilize our climate, feed billions, support livelihoods, and even produce half the oxygen we breathe. And yet, our vast and powerful blue planet is in trouble.

One of the women by my side was Nanie Ratsifandrihamanana, a veteran leader in conservation and the current head of WWF-Madagascar, where decades of programs have resulted in true community-led conservation. Nanie and her team work alongside coastal communities—fishermen, seaweed farmers—to generate benefits for people and nature through assisting communities in sustainably harvesting fish stocks and developing eco-tourism markets. In my 23 years at WWF, I have had the privilege of working alongside Nanie and other extraordinary women in conservation—marine biologists, Indigenous leaders, policymakers, and local fishers—who are driving solutions for a thriving ocean.

The other was my daughter, wide-eyed with curiosity, learning heaps about life in Madagascar: sitting underneath a village tree and talking with village leaders, studying in classrooms without pencils and paper, growing crops with resourceful irrigation, and developing the resilience required to endure food poisoning and heat stroke.

Throughout my trip with these two women—one with immense conservation knowledge and the other eager to learn on this intergenerational knowledge-sharing journey—I was reminded how important it is to cherish the wisdom of others as we take action to safeguard the future of the ocean.

But there’s a sobering reality behind these experiences. While Madagascar’s coastal communities are fighting for their ocean environment, the world at large isn’t doing enough. If we continue our current path, the ocean will increasingly become part of the climate crisis, not different from the world we know.

Many have decided individually, businesses and organizations working in science and conservation are clear that this passion and sense of urgency—and increasing alarm—must be mirrored by world leaders, which has been deeply committed to championing ocean protection, conserving marine biodiversity, promoting sustainable use of marine resources, and investing in innovative ocean-positive solutions.

A planet in peril

Climate change is heating our seas, overfishing is depleting marine life, and plastic pollution is suffocating marine ecosystems. The statistics are staggering: for decades, the ocean has masked the worst effects of climate change by absorbing massive amounts of carbon dioxide and about 90% of the excess heat generated by burning fossil fuels, leading to dying coral reefs, melting sea ice, and rising sea levels. Over a third of global fish stocks are being harvested beyond sustainable levels, and every minute, more than a dump truck’s worth of plastic enters our seas. Recent studies have even found microplastics in nearly all seafood samples. These clear signs signal that the ocean, our ally in sustaining life, is in crisis.

But there is hope. Science tells us that marine protected and conserved areas can help reverse some of the damage. By securing and sustainably managing our waters, and restoring marine ecosystems at scale, we can protect livelihoods, contribute to food security, support biodiversity, and accelerate our fight against climate change. Right now, only about 8% of the ocean is protected—far from the 30% needed by 2030 to make a real difference.

The power of local voices

One of the biggest opportunities in ocean conservation lies in engaging the people who work on the sea best. That’s why WWF works with more than 1,000 coastal communities—from the Arctic to the Tropics—partnering to exercise their rights to manage marine territories. Through this approach, WWF has helped secure 87 local management areas of coastal waters under collaborative management. Community-led marine protected areas are now safeguarding marine areas and raising local incomes. They are also inspiring a new generation of ocean leaders, often from historically excluded, marginalized groups.

Among these emerging leaders, women stand out: from Indigenous leaders and ocean scientists, pioneering sustainable technology, policy reform, and community activism. Yet despite making up almost half of the fishing workforce, most receive little to no recognition, resources, or rights. This must change.

UN Ocean Conference: A chance for real change

The United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice from June 9 to 13 is a rare opportunity to ensure that leadership in ocean conservation is as diverse as its marine life. Leaders at UNOC3 must actively support and amplify the voices of women and local leaders, ensuring they have a seat at the table where ocean decisions are made. This is a pivotal moment for world leaders to show up and support an implementation solution to safeguard our blue planet. WWF is calling for immediate progress in five key areas:

Protect 30% of the ocean by 2030
Governments must not only commit to this globally-agreed target but actually implement the protection and manage marine protected areas, including in high seas (marine areas that do not belong to any country jurisdiction), and be supported by fair and just benefit-sharing.

Halt harmful fisheries subsidies
The world continues to fund the destruction of the ocean through $22 billion of subsidies that often end up enabling illegal practices. The 2022 World Trade Organization agreement on harmful subsidies was a promising step forward, but we need ratification, entry into force, and new negotiations on critical issues.

Establish a moratorium on deep-sea mining
The deep sea remains one of the least known ecosystems, and almost 100 scientists have publicly warned against mining it. We must push for a global agreement on no ocean depths until we fully understand the consequences to avoid irreversible damage.

Finalize a Global Plastics Treaty
The world’s addiction to plastics is drowning our seas. Voluntary efforts have failed—we need bold action. We need a legally binding treaty that not only addresses waste but curbs plastic production at the source.

Integrate ocean-climate solutions into global policy
The ocean is a critical part of the solution to the climate crisis. Coastal ecosystems like mangroves, seagrass, and coral reefs store carbon, protect coasts, and sustain fisheries, yet they are overlooked in climate action plans. It's time to prioritize them.

We don’t need more discussions or debates. We have the science, the solutions, and the momentum. We have the wisdom passed down over time and new knowledge emerging from local leaders. What we need now is the courage to overcome political hesitation and corporate inertia.

The ocean is at a turning point. The choices we make today will determine whether future generations experience thriving, life-filled seas or barren waters stripped of their vitality. My daughter—and the millions of young people who will inherit this planet—deserve better. The time to act is now.

Kirsten Schuijt is the Director General of WWF International.

By Kirsten Schuijt

Contributor

Kirsten Schuijt is the Director General of WWF International, leading the organization’s global conservation efforts across over 100 countries. Appointed in 2023, she previously served as CEO of WWF-Netherlands, where she championed data-driven environmental strategies and landscape resilience. With over 25 years of field and leadership experience, Schuijt has worked extensively in Africa and holds a PhD in Environmental Sciences. Her work is dedicated to reversing biodiversity loss and addressing climate change through inclusive, science-based solutions.