Bermeo Tuna World Capital Brings the Local Blue Economy to the World Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice

Bermeo Tuna World Capital Brings the Local Blue Economy to the World Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice

Alongside UN Etxea, Hawaii, Paraná, and Shizuoka, and with the support of the Local 2030 Coalition, Bermeo Tuna will lead the roundtable discussion on local actions as the foundation for a sustainable blue economy

Bermeo, June 2, 2025. – With the third edition of the World Ocean Conference (UNOC3) just around the corner—to be held June 9–13, 2025—Bermeo Tuna World Capital (Bermeo Tuna) has been selected to organize a high-level side event, entitled: “Local Transformation for Global Impact: Sustainable Blue Economy and Multi-Stakeholder Governance to Advance SDG 14.”

The UN Ocean Conference is the leading international forum for addressing the challenges facing marine and coastal ecosystems. At this year’s conference, an urgent call is being made to accelerate the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water), which aims to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources.

The event, organized by Bermeo Tuna and part of the Conference’s official program of side events, focuses the discussion on the importance of local action and territorial governance as fundamental pillars for achieving a sustainable blue economy. Through specific examples from regions such as the Basque Country (Spain), Paraná (Brazil), Shizuoka (Japan), and Hawaii (U.S.), the event will demonstrate how collaboration among local governments, the private sector, academia, and civil society can generate innovative and replicable solutions for ocean sustainability.

During the event, voluntary commitments aligned with the 2030 Agenda will be presented, such as the International Declaration on Tuna Sustainability, promoted by BTWC. This initiative seeks to bring together global commitments to protect marine ecosystems and ensure the future of the tuna value chain—a vital resource whose exploitation is nearing maximum sustainable yield.

In addition, synergies among regions will be explored to promote blue circular economies, regenerative tourism, and ocean-based solutions tailored to local and cultural contexts.

This side event is the result of an international partnership among local hubs of the United Nations Local2030 Coalition—whose global secretariat is based in Bilbao—including UN Etxea (Basque Country), which will serve as the panel moderator, Paraná 2030, Shizuoka Hub, Hawaii Green Growth, and the United Nations Local2030 Coalition, to demonstrate that ocean sustainability is not only decided in global forums but is built from the ports, communities, and territories that depend on the sea for their livelihoods.

The panelists for the roundtable discussion will be:

• Maitane Leizaola, Director of Bermeo Tuna World Capital, representing the Euskadi 2030 Hub.
• Prof. Allan Paul Krelling, Paraná 2030 Hub
• Prof. Masahiro Hashimoto, Shizuoka Hub
• Celeste Connors, CEO of Hawaii Green Growth and Co-President of the Local2030 Islands Network
• Arantzazu Acha, UN Etxea – Basque Country Association for UNESCO (moderator)

The event will take place at the end of the conference’s second day, on June 10, at 6:30 p.m. at the Hotel Nice Beau Rivage in Nice. Advance registration is required on the Bermeo Tuna website: