From Nice to New York to Home – Ireland’s Ocean Leadership in Motion 

by Sarah Elsaid, Blue Nature Alliance EU Lead

With my Irish roots now planted in the United States and leading European engagements for the Blue Nature Alliance, I see Ireland’s ratification of the High Seas Treaty (BBNJ Agreement) as a diplomatic milestone. And the timing matters. Ireland has now formally deposited its instruments of ratification during the United Nations General Assembly in New York.  Ireland’s leadership on the world stage demonstrates a readiness not just to make commitments, but to deliver on them. 

At the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) in Nice, Taoiseach Micheál Martin was clear: Ireland will be a “leading nation” in global maritime policy. The Taoiseach has reinforced that Ireland will protect 30% of our seas by 2030, put science and innovation at the center of marine policy, and has backed the European Ocean Pact that ties diplomacy to delivery. These ambitious commitments have set Ireland on a path to be recognized as a true leader in ocean stewardship. 

 The challenge now is to turn that vision into action at home. 

Marine Protected Areas: More than a Policy Target 

The Government is considering progressing Marine Protected Area (MPA) legislation through an amendment to existing marine spatial planning law, aiming to accelerate the delivery of new national designations before 2030. That urgency is welcome. But as the local campaign group in Ireland, Fair Seas, and others have highlighted, designations must be legally robust, science-based, and ecologically coherent if they are to endure. 

This is not about numbers or lines on a map, but about protections that are effective and resilient. Our seas are central to Ireland’s heritage and identity. They sustain fishing communities, support tourism, and underpin our renewable energy future. These are not competing agendas and with well-designed MPAs, they can be aligned. Clear rules build investor confidence while safeguarding biodiversity. Done well, MPAs become the backbone of a stable, sustainable ocean economy. 

Building Consensus, Building Trust 

Despite Ireland setting the right targets and its sense of urgency to reach them, the reality is that the pace of delivery has not yet matched the scale of ambition. This has created understandable concern about whether Ireland can move quickly enough, in an impactful way, to meet its international obligations. 

Yet this is also a moment of opportunity. The science is clear, and civil society, led by local partners like Fair Seas, has laid impressive groundwork through mapping priority areas, engaging coastal voices, and building a national movement of ocean stewards. Their work shows that success is within reach, provided the necessary next steps are taken. 

Thankfully, Ireland is not starting from scratch; the roadmap is there:  

Stakeholders consistently point to three priorities that can accelerate progress towards effective and durable MPAs: 

• Legislation that provides clarity and creates confidence, 

• Implementation that ensures designations are climate-smart and effective, and 

• Resourcing that equips MPAs to deliver tangible benefits for biodiversity, communities, and industry. 

Real progress depends on contributions from many stakeholders, and the ingredients for success are clear: Partners like Fair Seas driving ambition and community engagement; businesses and communities bringing innovation and experience; and a government willing to deliver. Civil servants, in particular, have played a vital role, from Ireland’s negotiations on the BBNJ Agreement, to advancing the treaty, and now ensuring ratification at UNGA. Their steady, often unseen work is what keeps Ireland’s leadership credible.  

A Call to Ireland’s Leadership 

Depositing the High Seas Treaty at UNGA was a vital step. But leadership is not only judged by signatures; it is measured in delivery. Now is the moment for Ireland to prove that the commitments made in Nice and New York are matched by robust, climate-smart MPAs at home. 

This is about protecting heritage, sustaining fishing and tourism, securing a balanced renewable energy future, and cementing Ireland’s credibility on the world stage. 

Ireland has the chance to lead not just as a voice in global negotiations, but as a country that delivers results on the water, for people and for the planet. 

The world is watching. The opportunity is here.