As the world edges closer to the 2025 global deadline to reduce marine pollution under Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14.1, momentum is building across governments, businesses, and international organisations to accelerate action for healthier oceans. The UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) in Nice (9–13 June 2025) is a major checkpoint towards meeting our global commitment to reduce marine pollution and provides an opportunity to present achievements, share innovations, and make new pledges to protect marine ecosystems before the 2025 clock runs out. With a theme centred on “Scaling up ocean action based on science and innovation,” the conference is expected to galvanise high-level commitments and foster collaboration between governments, scientists, businesses, and civil society.
Among the most urgent and yet often overlooked threats is Ghost Gear – abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing nets and lines that continue haunting marine ecosystems long after their commercial use has expired. Fishing gear is made from plastics (largely polyurethane) that can persist in the ocean for centuries. Left behind in seas and oceans across the globe, they continue to trap marine animals, smother coral reefs, and contribute to the growing crisis of microplastic pollution.
In the run-up to the UNOC in Nice this June, new solutions are emerging that offer a tangible path forward.
Innovation on Display: The MAPS Expo in Geneva
As the deadline looms, the need for innovative, scalable, and enforceable solutions is greater than ever.
In March 2025, the innovation behind Catchgreen’s biodegradable nets was on full display at the first-ever Marine-based Products and Services (MAPS) Expo, hosted by UNCTAD during the 5th UN Ocean Forum in Geneva. The expo showcased technologies aimed at reducing marine pollution and advancing sustainable blue economies.
The SDG 14.1 target is one of the earliest deadlines across all SDGs, emphasising the urgency of addressing the growing threats to marine health.
Stay tuned for more updates from the SMEP Programme on the road to Nice!
