WELL/BEINGS at UNOC 2025: Protecting Oceans, Elevating Voices, and Confronting Absence
Opening night at UNOC: WELL/BEINGS co-founder, Breanna Schultz with Parley For The Oceans founder, Cyrill Gutsch and Masha Kalinina, WELL/BEINGS Advisor and PEW Director.
WELL/BEINGS FIRST UNITED NATIONS OCEANS CONFERENCE (unoc) IN NICE, FRANCE. A Week of Ocean Truths, Shared Purpose, and INSPIRING Hope as told by breanna schultz, well/beings co-founder and executive director:
This June, I had the honor of representing WELL/BEINGS at the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) in Nice, France—a convening of scientists, Indigenous leaders, youth, artists, advocates, and policymakers all working to protect the world’s oceans. It was a week grounded in truth and possibility: a global community rising in shared purpose, even as we face an accelerating crisis.
People of the Ocean: A Global Tapestry of Stewards
One of the most moving moments was the People of the Ocean plenary, put on by our own advisory board member Masha Kalinina. It was an unforgettable celebration of Indigenous and local communities whose lives, identities, and futures are interwoven with the sea. Voices from the Great Bear Sea in Canada, the Pacific Islands, Madagascar, and beyond shared stories not just of climate risk, but of ancestral resilience, sacred knowledge, and community-driven conservation that’s working.
The courage and clarity of speakers like Chief Danielle Shaw, Saul Hazil’hba Brown, and Vatosoa Rakotondrazafy was unforgettable. They weren’t just asking for recognition, they were demonstrating what real ocean guardianship looks like. Their leadership is the blueprint.
Panels That Changed My Perspective
Throughout the week, I attended sessions that reshaped how I think about our ocean work.
At Sea Road to 30x30, we explored how to meet the global goal of protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030. But this was not just about numbers, it was about justice. Indigenous co-management, sustained funding, and equitable governance must be at the core.
In Guardians of Nature, I listened to grassroots defenders speak about protecting mangroves, coral reefs, and sea grasses with passion and grit. These are the unsung heroes of ocean conservation, people doing the work daily, often without recognition or resources.
Plastic pollution panels were some of the most urgent. It’s not just a waste issue; it’s a health, equity, and economic crisis. I was grateful to hear from SIDS (Small Island Developing States), who continue to lead with moral clarity while facing disproportionate harm..
Indigenous song during Sea Road to 30×30 panel at the Ocean House
A Flag, A Ship, A Symbol
One of the most striking images from the week was the Ocean Week Flag, created by our friends at Solgaard entirely from recovered ocean plastics. Flown from the conversation and research ships, this flag was more than a symbol, it was a call to action. Thank you, Solgaard, for turning pollution into purpose and art.
Speaking of incredible research ships, touring the OceanXplorer was awe-inspiring. It is the most advanced ocean exploration vessel in the world, blending science, technology, and cinematic storytelling to make deep-sea research accessible and impactful. Standing in its mission control center—watching real-time sonar and deep-sea footage—it became clear: we need to bring more innovation and research onto the existing boats of the ocean and this was a great model on how to do it!
Below: Solgaard x UNOC Flying of the Flags with Dr. Sylvia Earle
Our Role at WELL/BEINGS
At WELL/BEINGS, our mission is rooted in the interconnected wellbeing of animals, people, and the planet. Whether we’re restoring mangroves in the BVI, supporting spay and education programs in the Caribbean, or helping Bolivian communities respond to fires in the Amazon, we know that healthy oceans mean healthy futures—for all species.
UNOC 2025 proved to me that our impact model towards our issues is our key to success. The most effective solutions are often local, collaborative, and led by those closest to the crisis. It also reminded me how powerful storytelling can be—especially when the people behind the story are the ones telling it.
And even when our federal government is absent, we are not.
UNOC 2025 left me inspired, but also firm in the belief that we cannot afford to lead from behind. The ocean is rising. We must rise with it.
Our website here is a comprehensive overview of our work and our current campaigns.
You can also get involved by:
Following WELL/BEINGS on Instagram
Email me for more information about our 2026 Programmatic Learning Trip