Prof. Alan Deidun, resident academic within the Department of Geosciences of the Faculty of Science and Malta’s Ocean Ambassador, participated as a panellist within the 5th Oceans Forum organised by UNCTAD at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, on the invitation of the International Ocean Institute (IOI) and UNCTAD itself and through financial support by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism (MFT). UNCTAD (UN Trade and Development) is a permanent intergovernmental body established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1964, wit headquarters in Geneva.

The 5th UN Ocean Forum served as a pivotal platform for stakeholders to shape global trade-related ocean policies by:

• Delivering a set of coherent policy recommendations – in the form of a Chair’s summary by co-chairs France and Costa Rica – to the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference in June, laying the groundwork for action-oriented voluntary commitments.
• Contributing to the Blue Economy and Finance Forum in June 2025 and the 16th UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD16) in October 2025.
• Coordinating global efforts to implement recommendations to support the emergence of sustainable ocean-based economies in small island developing states (SIDS) and coastal communities, in line with the UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) SIDS strategy.

Prof. Deidun expounded on the growing importance of the ocean to provide novel foods as well as a vast array of BAMs (Bioactive Molecules). In 2024 alone, the EU approved 20 new seaweed-derivates for human consumption across the continent, despite the surging seaweed sector being a highly under-regulated one. The panel within which Prof. Deidun participated was chaired by Ashok Adicéam, Head of International Mobilization & President Macron’s Deputy Special Envoy for UNOC 3 (United Nations Ocean Conference 3) being organised in Nice this coming June.

The ocean economy is outpacing other sectors, expanding 2.5 times since 1995 compared to 1.9 times for the global economy. Ocean trade in goods and services hit a record of $2.2 trillion in exports in 2023, showing a strong recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Marine-based plastic substitutes (including biofilms produced from seaweed) offer a $10.8 billion market opportunity that can help cut plastic pollution while creating new business avenues.

Full details of the UNCTAD Oceans Forum in question can be gleaned online.