UNOC 2025 Day 3: Scaling Trust, Tech, and Equity in the Blue Economy

The third day of the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) in Nice was packed with urgency, experimentation, and reality checks. From community-led solutions to high-tech shipping fixes, the sessions made one thing clear: innovation means little without trust, regulation, and inclusivity.

🧠Innovation with Incomplete Maps: Science, Stakeholders, and the Case for Trust

Opening the day, Sapir Markus Alford (Gigablue) emphasized a key challenge:

Many innovations are moving forward without a deep understanding of the problems or the presence of critical stakeholders. Gigablue’s approach builds on a solid scientific foundation, backed by clear experimentation, regulatory alignment, and a system of cell credits to fund innovation.

Starting in New Zealand, the team intentionally chose a conservative regulatory environment to test feasibility. Approvals came only after convincing both regulators (with science) and Māori communities (with clear financial and cultural value).

Catalina Reyes-Vargas (Oceanico Labs) brought a Latin American lens, naming the absence of an innovation mindset and tangled policy frameworks as major barriers, especially in Colombia. Three core challenges emerged:

• Policy navigation amid regulatory complexity

• Cultural governance, particularly among Indigenous and Black communities

• Verification and communication, where translating science into policy and local understanding remains a major hurdle

For Oceanico, innovation means developing technologies and networks that include communities from the start.

Alasdair Harris (ORCA) pointed to another weak link: ocean philanthropy. Less than $200M is committed globally, far from what’s needed. Harris emphasized inclusive conservation, anchored in trust, communication, and hyper-local engagement. His take: "We don’t have time to pause innovation every time it stumbles, projects must be supported by regulation, not blocked by novelty."

Ruth Driscoll-Lovejoy (Ocean Visions) echoed the call for communication-savvy collaboration. Bridging climate and ocean sectors is overdue, and she warned against siloed, project-based efforts. Regulation, she said, can be a force for good—avoiding duplication and forcing dialogue between actors. But success will depend on involving the end-users of tech and credit systems from day one.

🌍 Africa's Blue Economy – Innovation from the Ground Up

Less than 1% of global ocean funding reaches Africa. That stark figure shaped the tone of Session 2.

Keep IT Cool offered one solution: reducing post-harvest fish loss through efficient cooling systems. Their value chain work has improved efficiency by up to 90%, proving the transformative power of local solutions in fragmented markets.

Katapult is mapping Africa’s startup ecosystem, connecting ready-to-scale ventures with global capital. Ocean Hub Africa’s Alexi Grossknopf emphasized entrepreneurship support through hackathons, technical aid, and grant financing. Still, major gaps remain: minimal government welfare, few grants, and limited early technical support. Grossknopf called for a funding continuum, start with lower due diligence, then support improvement.

Sigurd Kihl (NORAD) advocated for blended finance models, where governments and private sector funds combine strengths. This partnership approach, he argued, can close both capacity and capital gaps.

Dr. Sara Andreotti (SharkSafe Barriers) shared a sobering stat: just 300–500 white sharks remain in South Africa. Though protected on paper, enforcement lags. Her team is creating eco-friendly alternatives to gillnets and plans to reinvest profits into academic research. But she highlighted a harsh truth: investors still favor cheaper, destructive methods. Her message: "Vision without action is hallucination."

Lavine Irvine (Coastal Biotech) is turning to macroalgae to make agriculture more sustainable, developing plant biostimulants that lock in nutrients and reduce runoff. Their goal: shift from carbon-dependent agriculture to regenerative tech that works with nature.

🚢 Net-Zero Shipping – From Possible to Practical

Tatiana Der Avedissian (Economist Group) opened with a big number: $250 billion is needed to decarbonize global shipping.

Daniel Barcarolo (Maersk McKinney Moller Center) explained that the world’s first GHG regulation in shipping is now mandatory, with financial penalties for noncompliance. His message: in-segment regulation must go beyond offsets.

Natalya Katsap (Höegh Autoliners) called for credible, scalable proof-of-concept projects pointing to ammonia as a viable fuel. While funding is available, it’s scattered. What’s missing? Connection and coordination.

Gavin Allwright (Wind Ship Association) said the tech is ready: current off-the-shelf wind systems can meet 50–60% of fuel reduction targets. But he pushed for a shift in mindset: we must treat energy efficiency, not fuel, as the core. Retrofits and just-in-time arrivals should be standard, not fringe. Innovative models like leasing wind propulsion, paid through fuel savings, could be game-changers.

Chase Dwyer (Carbon Ridge) offered a pragmatic solution: carbon capture directly onboard ships. Their approach rerouting fuel exhaust to capture liquid CO₂, may help bridge the gap until regulations catch up. But he warned: unless owners embrace the tech early, first movers will lose money.

🛡️ Panel: Protecting the High Seas – BBNJ in Action

Aboard the research vessel METEOR, a high-level panel explored implementation of the new BBNJ Agreement.

Sebastian Unge noted 51 countries have ratified the treaty, but only 1.6% of the high seas are protected. Lisa Speer emphasized the transformative potential of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), especially if countries are required to share screening decisions transparently.

South American and Pacific Island experts urged for better integration of local knowledge, equitable data access, and low-cost tech. The digital divide looms large in discussions of marine data. As one speaker put it: “If communities feel part of the conversation, they’ll collaborate. If they feel MPAs are imposed, they won’t.”

Vera Gusini (FAO) called attention to RFMOs, which manage 90% of high seas fisheries. Though often siloed, they hold complementary mandates. Instead of duplication, collaboration is key.

The Global Environment Facility announced its technical assistance facility to support BBNJ implementation on-demand and tailored to national needs.

Conclusion:

From grassroots innovation in Africa to net-zero shipping solutions and high seas governance, Impactful Innovations Day spotlighted the power and limits of ocean tech. The key themes? Trust, equity, regulation, and collaboration. The path to ocean resilience runs through systems, not just startups.