WCPFC Executive Director to Join Pivotal Panel at Third UN Ocean Conference in Nice, Highlighting Pacific Leadership
NICE, FRANCE – June 2, 2025 – The Secretariat of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) will be represented by the Executive Director, Rhea Moss-Christian, and the Finance and Administration Manager, Aaron Nighswander, at the upcoming Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, France, from June 9-13, 2025.
Moss-Christian will join one of the ten Ocean Action Panels (OAP), bringing her extensive expertise to the forefront of global discussions on ocean health. She will also work with closely with WCPFC Headquarters host, the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), whose President, H.E. Wesley W. Simina, will also participate on one of the conference OAPs.
The theme of the 2025 oceans conference is dedicated to "Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean," directly supporting implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG14) which is focused on “Life Below Water”. The WCPFC Secretariat’s participation in the conference, together with the high-level presence of the Federated States of Micronesia and other WCPFC members, underscores the critical role of the Pacific region in shaping sustainable global oceans governance and addressing the pressing challenges facing marine ecosystems.
Moss-Christian’s participation on the OAP relating to “Promoting the role of sustainable food from the ocean for poverty eradication and food security” reflects the role of the WCPFC in managing over 50% of the global tuna supply. She will highlight the critical role of tuna as a significant global protein source and essential nutrition while noting the equally critical role of ecosystems that support tuna fisheries to food security.
"We are at a pivotal moment for our oceans, and the Third UN Ocean Conference provides an unparalleled opportunity for awareness of issues that impact the largest tuna fisheries in the world and those that depend on them," said Moss-Christian. "I am honored to join a panel of esteemed colleagues in a discussion that will delve into what it means to genuinely “conserve and sustainably use” ocean resources toward realization of a fundamental human right—which is the right to food.”
The FSM President Simina will contribute to a panel discussion on Promoting and Supporting All Forms of Cooperation, Especially at Regional and Subregional Levels. President Simina’s remarks will highlight the role of tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (tRFMOs), including the WCPFC, in advancing regional cooperation in management of shared resources like tuna. The FSM exclusive economic zone is home to rich tuna fisheries, and its state of Pohnpei hosts the WCPFC Headquarters.
The WCPFC Secretariat will be actively engaged throughout the conference, including at several side events relating to the BBNJ Treaty and the role of RFMOs in advancing SDG14.
Live Streaming and Daily Updates:
All plenary sessions and Ocean Action Panels of the Third UN Ocean Conference, including those featuring the WCPFC Executive Director and the FSM President, will be live-streamed on the official United Nations Website.
The Secretariat will also provide regular updates on key issues that come up during the conference via the Secretariat’s social media channels and official website.
For further information, please contact: wcpfc@wcpfc.int
About the WCPFC: The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) is an intergovernmental organization established by the Convention for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean. Its objective is to ensure, through effective management, the long-term conservation and sustainable use of highly migratory fish stocks in the western and central Pacific Ocean.