His Excellency Dr. Ziad H. Abu Ghararah, Secretary-General of the Regional Organization for Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (PERSGA), participated in the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC-3), held in Nice, France, on 11 June 2025.

The main objective of the meeting was to review and approve the updated Regional Seas Strategic Directions (RSSD 2026–2029) as a collaborative global platform to support the effective delivery of the Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans (RSCAPs) in the new momentum created at global, regional and national levels for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in particular Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG14), and other global relevant commitments at UNOC-3. The Secretary-General delivered a presentation on the current activities and programs of the Regional Organization, highlighting their alignment with the 2020–2025 Regional Seas Action Plan Strategy and their planned implementation in harmony with the upcoming 2026–2030 strategy.

The meeting provided an opportunity for discussion, exchange of views, and strengthening partnerships in preparation for developing an enhanced agenda for ocean governance. A joint session was held between the Regional Seas and the Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) as part of the Global Dialogue of the Sustainable Ocean Initiative (SOI), in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

During the meeting, a number of important topics were discussed, such as cooperation with international agreements related to biodiversity and the Climate Change Convention, in addition to the newly emerging environmental agreements currently under negotiation, such as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement and the Plastic Pollution agreement. Sustainable financing for Regional Seas Organizations.