By Shruti Menon Seeboo
A recent interview with Bernardo Nascimento, the Odysseo Foundation Manager, offers a compelling insight into the outcomes of the recent UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) and their potential impact on Mauritius’s marine future. With his extensive background as a marine biologist and his pivotal role at the Odysseo Oceanarium, Nascimento provides a unique perspective on the global and local implications of this crucial international gathering.
Significant Breakthroughs for Ocean Health: A Global Perspective and Local Resonance
Bernardo Nascimento’s experience at the recent UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) was, by his own account, incredibly intense and productive. He described a highly dynamic environment: “In just 10 days, there were around 1,000 side events, and 175 UN member states were present.” The scale of participation was remarkable, allowing for unexpected encounters: “It was surprisingly easy to cross paths with prime ministers, ministers, and ambassadors from all over the world.” This level of engagement was significant, as these nations collectively represent “90% of the world’s Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs),” highlighting the immense potential for coordinated global action. For Nascimento, this impressive convergence of events and people truly delivered “meaningful commitments and progress.”
Among the most impactful outcomes, Nascimento particularly highlighted the ratification of the High Seas Treaty. He stressed its foundational importance, stating: “The ratification of the High Seas Treaty by 51 nations. The agreement to protect Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) is essential, as this vast area of the ocean belongs to everyone and to no one at the same time.” This new legal framework is critical because, as he explained, “Effective regulation and protection are urgent because food security and climate mitigation depend on good management of these waters.” This treaty provides a much-needed mechanism for collective governance over areas that, until now, have largely existed without comprehensive oversight, making it a monumental step for global marine conservation.
Another crucial development at UNOC3 was the growing global opposition to deep-sea mining. Nascimento reported encouraging progress on this front: “The decision by 37 countries to say ‘No’ to deep sea mining. While this is not enough to halt it completely, it is significant progress.” He articulated the profound risks associated with this nascent industry, emphasising that “The full impact of deep-sea mining is still uncertain, but there is strong evidence that it would lead to irreversible habitat destruction, with potential impacts on fisheries.” Beyond the direct ecological damage, he warned of a broader threat: “Furthermore, it could release vast amounts of CO₂ currently stored in the deep sea, worsening climate change and accelerating the undesirable rise in global temperatures.” This collective stance by a growing number of nations signals a crucial turning point in prioritising precaution over potential exploitation in one of Earth’s last untouched frontiers.
Finally, Nascimento underscored the global commitment to the 30×30 goal, deeming it “the most important and urgent topic.” This ambitious global target aims to “protect 30% of the planet – land and ocean – by 2030.” The scientific rationale behind this goal is clear: “Scientists emphasise its importance because protecting at least 30% is necessary to sustain the essential life-support systems of our planet, including food, water, oxygen, and stable temperatures.” For Nascimento, this goal holds particular personal significance: “This topic is very close to my heart, and I could go on and on about it. In short, I believe it is one of the easiest goals to implement and one with the strongest, most far-reaching impact for life on Earth.” He also found it fascinating to observe which nations were leading the charge: “Something very interesting to see is that some of the nations that are more ahead in this goal are from the most develop countries like USA and France but also from small nations like Costa Rica or even SDIS from the pacific that took it to the extreme of protection 100% of their Exclusive Economic Zone. As a curiosity I’m referring to Niue, a SDIS from the Pacific Ocean.” Despite the challenges and the need for more concrete action, Nascimento remains optimistic, concluding that “without these events, the situation would be even worse. I hope that through these important international gatherings, we can create exponential growth curves for progress and change.”
The Blue Regenerative Economy: A Promising Tide for Mauritius and Other Big Blue Ocean States
While the broader concept of the Blue Economy received much attention, it was the specific emphasis on the Blue Regenerative Economy that truly captured Nascimento’s imagination at UNOC3. He articulated this exciting distinction, noting that “There was a lot of discussion about Blue Economy, but even more exciting was the focus on Blue Regenerative Economy. This approach goes beyond merely generating economic value – it seeks to protect and regenerate coastal and marine ecosystems.” This represents a crucial evolution, moving from simply utilising ocean resources sustainably to actively restoring and enhancing marine environments.
This regenerative approach holds particular significance for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like Mauritius. Nascimento highlighted the powerful new designation afforded to these nations at UNOC3: “The Blue Economy is a vital element for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like Mauritius, refer at UNOC with the powerful new designation: BBOS – Big Blue Ocean States.” This new term acknowledges the immense marine territories these seemingly small landmasses oversee, underscoring their critical role in global ocean governance and conservation. The financial commitment linked to this vision is substantial, with the ambitious goal to “mobilise €175 billion per year to develop the Blue Economy and protect the oceans.” While acknowledging the current disparity – “The bad news is that this year, we are only at €25 billion” – Nascimento remained positive, stating “it was clear from the discussions and momentum that this number will grow quickly.” This signals a growing international recognition of the ocean’s economic potential when managed responsibly.
Adding to the optimism, Nascimento shared a fascinating statistical insight learned at the conference: “Another fascinating insight I learned at the conference is that the Blue Economy is currently the fastest growing economy in the world.” This rapid growth presents an unparalleled opportunity for SIDS like Mauritius to leverage their vast marine resources in a manner that benefits both their economies and their ecosystems. The shift from merely exploiting resources to actively regenerating them offers a sustainable pathway for long-term prosperity, aligning economic development with ecological health. For Mauritius, this means exploring and investing in sectors that not only generate income but also actively contribute to the vitality of its unparalleled marine biodiversity and coastal resilience. This includes, for example, sustainable tourism, responsible aquaculture, marine biotechnology, and ecosystem-based coastal protection.
Odysseo: Translating Global Goals into Local Waves of Action
Nascimento firmly believes in the transformative power of public aquariums, especially in an era where trust in traditional sources of information can be fleeting. He articulated this pivotal role, stating: “I believe that Odysseo and public aquariums play an extremely important role in transforming society.” He underscored their unique position as trusted educators, citing a compelling study: “A study released a few years ago showed that people often struggle to trust political speeches and find scientific language hard to understand — and yet, according to this study, public aquariums are seen as one of the most reliable sources of information about the ocean.” This trust is crucial for fostering genuine engagement and action.
Beyond their credibility, public aquariums possess an impressive reach. Nascimento noted that “public aquariums reach around 10% of the world’s population each year — and Odysseo’s numbers are similar.” This broad audience provides an unparalleled platform for education and, more importantly, for inspiring change. At Odysseo, the focus goes beyond simply imparting knowledge; it’s about igniting a sense of responsibility and empowering individuals. “At Odysseo, we focus not just on education, but on calls to action, even if they are small,” Nascimento explained. “As long as they have a positive impact on the planet, they matter — and we need to inspire people to act.”
To illustrate the power of individual action, Nascimento shared the well-known and heartwarming story of the young girl and the starfish. In his retelling, the girl meticulously returns starfish washed ashore, despite being told by an observer, “‘Little girl, why are you doing this? Look at this beach — you can’t save all these starfish. You can’t possibly make a difference!'” Unfazed, she continues her work, replying, “‘Well, I made a difference for that one!'” The story culminates with the man joining her, and then others, until “together, they saved all the starfish.” This narrative beautifully encapsulates Odysseo’s philosophy: that even seemingly small, individual efforts can collectively create monumental change. Nascimento reinforced this message with a quote from best-selling author Robin Sharma, who recently visited Mauritius: “Dream big. Start small. But act now.” This philosophy guides Odysseo’s programmes, from educational workshops for children to public awareness campaigns, aiming to cultivate a generation of ocean stewards who understand that their actions, however minor, contribute to the larger health of the marine environment.
Funding the Blue Future: Innovative Mechanisms and Opportunities for Small Island Developing States
The critical issue of financing marine conservation and the sustainable blue economy was a major theme at UNOC3, and it was further elaborated upon at the Blue Economy Financial Forum (BEFF) in Monaco, which Nascimento had the privilege of attending. He described this event as “exclusive,” gathering “around 1,500 people from all over the world and was hosted by Prince Albert II of Monaco.” The calibre of attendees was particularly striking: “The mix of participants was truly impressive: political leaders, representatives of some of the world’s biggest banks and insurance companies, major business groups, lawyers, biologists, environmentalists, and many others.” What truly stood out was “the level of decision-making power concentrated in that room,” signalling a serious global intent to address ocean financing.
Unsurprisingly, funding was at the forefront of discussions. Nascimento reiterated the ambitious financial target: “As I mentioned previously, the ‘magic number’ seems to be €175 billion per year to protect the oceans and develop the Blue Economy.” While acknowledging the significant gap between aspiration and current reality – “The bad news is that this year, we are only at €25 billion” – he expressed confidence in future growth, noting “it was clear from the discussions and momentum that this number will grow quickly.” This momentum suggests a burgeoning recognition among financial institutions and governments of the economic value inherent in a healthy ocean and sustainable practices.
The discussions around financing mechanisms were, as Nascimento described, “very technical,” but he summarised them into four main formats: Blended finance, Biodiversity credits, Debt-for-nature swaps and Outcome-linked blue bonds.
- Blended finance involves combining different types of capital (e.g., public, private, philanthropic) to fund projects, often de-risking investments for private entities.
- Biodiversity credits are a newer concept, similar to carbon credits, where investments in nature restoration generate tradable credits that can offset environmental impact.
- Outcome-linked blue bonds are financial instruments where the return on investment is tied to achieving specific environmental outcomes related to ocean health.
- However, from his perspective as a non-financial expert, Nascimento saw particular promise in debt-for-nature swaps for Mauritius and the Odysseo Foundation’s mission. He explained this mechanism succinctly: “In a nutshell, this means that some large nations are willing to exchange part of the debt owed by smaller nations for concrete restoration or conservation projects.” This innovative approach offers a dual benefit: alleviating national debt burdens while simultaneously funnelling funds directly into vital environmental initiatives.
Crucially, Nascimento highlighted that Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are explicitly identified as a priority for channelling these funds. This strategic focus is due to their immense marine territories: “One thing that stood out to me was that Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are seen as a priority for channelling these funds, as together they hold 30% of the world’s oceans.” This recognition positions Mauritius and other SIDS not merely as vulnerable states, but as custodians of a significant portion of global marine biodiversity, making them prime candidates for innovative blue finance initiatives.
Mauritius’s Path Forward: Embracing Ownership of the Blue Territory and Leadership in Regeneration
Looking beyond the conference, Nascimento offered a profound perspective on the single most critical change, policy shift, or mindset adjustment that Mauritius must prioritise. He described it as “a big question — a million-dollar question.”
His first point addressed a fundamental cultural connection to the ocean: “I would start by saying that the first thing Mauritian citizens need to do is to demystify, or perhaps even lose, their fear of the ocean.” He praised the work of Odysseo in this regard, stating, “In this sense, I believe the Odysseo is already doing a tremendous job.” Building on this, his second point emphasised the concept of national pride and responsibility: “Secondly, Mauritians need to take ownership of the 99.9% of their territory that is ocean.” This staggering figure often goes unappreciated, yet it represents an immense resource and responsibility.
Thirdly, Nascimento directly addressed the leadership: “Thirdly, political and business leaders need to understand that this vast, unexplored territory holds not only incredible opportunities but also a responsibility to protect it for the good of the nation and the planet.” This calls for a strategic vision that integrates ocean health directly into national development plans, recognising that economic prosperity and environmental stewardship are inextricably linked.
Nascimento holds a strong belief in Mauritius’s potential to become a global exemplar in the emerging blue economy: “I strongly believe that Mauritius can become a global case study in Blue Regenerative Economy.” Drawing from his own national experience, he added, “I am originally from Portugal, a small country, yet we are among the world leaders in Blue Economy — and I see no reason why Mauritius cannot achieve the same.” This optimistic outlook is grounded in observed local trends: “I see political leaders excited and willing to engage in mechanisms to support this new economy. I see businesses becoming more and more curious about the topic.”
He further highlighted the crucial role of the Odysseo Foundation in this national transformation: “And I see Odysseo Foundation, with the creation of its Blue Economy Hub and its partnerships with government and business, playing an important role.” This collaborative approach, bringing together science, education, policy, and finance, is key to translating ambitions into tangible outcomes.
Nascimento concluded with a powerful vision of collective impact: “Together, we will make a significant contribution not only to developing the Blue Economy but also to protecting marine and coastal ecosystems, and to the mitigation of climate change and pollution.” Mauritius, therefore, stands at a pivotal juncture, poised to leverage its unique position as a Big Blue Ocean State to chart a course towards a truly regenerative and prosperous future.
