Published on World Oceans Day, the Third World Ocean Assessment (WOA III) provides the most comprehensive evaluation of the state of the global ocean to date. Released by the United Nations, the assessment offers governments, institutions, scientists, and the public a critical evidence base to support informed decision-making and coordinated action for ocean sustainability.

The report highlights a deepening ocean crisis driven by climate change, pollution, overfishing, and biodiversity loss, with many marine ecosystems and habitats approaching or surpassing critical tipping points. According to the assessment, urgent action is needed through stronger multilateral cooperation, greater ambition, and policies grounded in the best available science.

Covering more than 70% of the Earth's surface, the ocean plays a vital role in regulating the climate, supporting biodiversity, producing oxygen, and sustaining livelihoods worldwide. The assessment examines key stressors affecting the global ocean, changes observed since the previous assessment, advances in marine observations and ocean knowledge, and the growing importance of ocean governance.

For the first time, the World Ocean Assessment includes a dedicated section on ocean governance, highlighting the need for coherent and connected approaches across international and regional institutions. It also places significant emphasis on socioecological systems, exploring the links between ocean health and human well-being, including food security, public health, equity, gender, and Indigenous and local knowledge.

Published midway through both the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, the assessment serves as an important stocktake of progress and remaining challenges. It also comes shortly after the entry into force of the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), marking a significant milestone for international ocean governance.

As the report makes clear, ocean science remains indispensable in the search for solutions. By strengthening our understanding of the ocean and the pressures it faces, the Third World Ocean Assessment provides a foundation for the actions needed to secure a healthy, resilient ocean for current and future generations.

The full assessment is available: here.