ASC Reflections on UNOC: Oceans Offer Hope – Responsible Aquaculture is Essential, Blue Finance is the Catalyst  

“Oceans unite us,” declared Bertrand Charron, ASC Global Research and Insights Director, reflecting on a week participating at the United Nations Oceans Conference (UNOC) in Nice. “They offer a future full of opportunity – if we act now. To transform food systems and protect biodiversity, we need transparency, engagement, and credible, publicly-available performance data. With the right partnerships and finance, aquaculture can play a major role in food security and a sustainable, equitable ocean future.”

ASC’s participation at UNOC was pivotal, culminating in Bertrand’s invitation to address the UN Ocean Action Panel 9. Representing ASC and Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP), he championed sustainable ocean food as a solution to poverty and hunger, highlighting a collaborative initiative in India as a model for integrated, multi-stakeholder solutions. Read the full speech here.  

ASC Global Research and Insights Director Bertrand Charron speaks at UNOC in Nice about responsible seafood farming.

Earlier in the week, Bertrand was invited to join the Blue Economy and Finance Forum (BEFF), which brought together government, finance and philanthropy to accelerate sustainable ocean investment.  “A key takeaway from BEFF was the urgent need for robust data to inform decision-making,” said Bertrand. “Transparency builds trust—and trust drives investment.”  

Ray Dhirani, ASC/MSC Head of Capital Markets Outreach, also present at BEFF commented, “While some headline commitments were modest, we saw encouraging innovation from leading financiers, especially in emerging markets. There’s momentum—we must seize it.”   

A consistent message resonated across UNOC: the urgent need to scale blue finance. Investors are poised to act, but demand reliable ESG data and metrics to assess risk and impact. This is where ASC excels. 

ASC’s global certification programme provides verified performance data on aquaculture’s social and environmental impacts, supporting traceability, credible sustainability reporting, and de-risking investment. This crucial role is increasingly recognised and referenced by key global organisations including the World Bank and in initiatives such as the recently-launched Ocean Investment Protocol (OIP), Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), and Science Based Targets Network (SBTN). 

“The OIP is a landmark in ocean finance,” Bertrand stated. “It offers critical guidance to unlock sustainable investment—and ASC is ready to support it with the data, insight, and systems investors need to build trust in the blue economy.” 

As the ASC programme is science-based, Ola Luthman, ASC Climate Change Coordinator, attended the One Oceans Science Congress, also in Nice and held in the run up to UNOC. Ola concluded, “Whilst aquaculture was under-represented and key voices such as aquaculture producers and the fishing industry were missing, the conference recognised that aquaculture, if done with careful ecosystem integration, can play a much bigger role in climate adaptation and coastal resilience. 

“The conference emphasised that governance structures, across fisheries, Marine Protected Areas, and coastal ecosystems, need to evolve beyond top-down policies. This is directly relevant for aquaculture, which often faces fragmented governance and conflict over resources.” 

In an era defined by urgency and opportunity, ASC stands at the forefront of driving systemic change in ocean stewardship. Our presence at UNOC made one thing clear: responsible aquaculture is no longer optional—it is essential. With leadership, data-driven transparency, and bold collaboration, we can catalyse blue finance, transform global food systems, and secure a thriving ocean future for all. The momentum is real. Now is the time to lead with purpose, invest with confidence, and act with conviction.