Willemstad, June 6, 2025 – The Carmabi Foundation endorses the “Science for Ocean Action” manifesto, presented this week during the One Ocean Science Congress in Nice. The manifesto, drafted by hundreds of international scientists, will be presented to the delegations attending the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference, also taking place in Nice next week. The document emphasizes that scientific knowledge about the state of the ocean is widely available, and that what is urgently needed now is political courage to turn that knowledge into decisive action.
Our Ocean is Under Pressure
The ocean is vital for the climate, biodiversity, food security, and the well-being of billions of people. Yet its resilience is being rapidly undermined. Changes in temperature and acidity, pollution, overexploitation of marine resources, and unequal access to those resources are seriously endangering the ocean’s natural balance. Science is crystal clear on this: passivity is no longer an option.
From Knowledge to Action
What makes this manifesto powerful is the combination of scientific data with local and Indigenous knowledge. Together, they deliver a unified message: transformation is possible, but only if political leaders dare to act. Where scientific consensus exists, policymakers must move forward decisively. Where uncertainty remains, precaution must be the guiding principle — not a free pass for risky experimentation.
Fair Distribution and Transparency
The authors of the manifesto argue that ocean knowledge should serve both people and the planet. This means investing in marine research, education, and local leadership. It also means recognizing the right of coastal communities and Indigenous peoples to participate, and ensuring a fair distribution of the ocean’s benefits. Transparency and the precautionary principle must always lead the way.
Why Carmabi Supports the Manifesto
For Carmabi, which has been committed to nature conservation on land and at sea for seventy years, this call is self-evident. The organization conducts scientific research, protects ecosystems in parks such as the Curaçao Marine Park and the Mangrove Park, and provides education to both young people and adults. Director Dr. Manfred van Veghel, speaking from Nice, emphasizes the importance of these global calls to action:
"The ocean connects us all. Both locally and globally, we depend on its health. This manifesto shows that it is time to stop using science merely as a warning tool — it must now be used to drive real change. This is a mission we fully embrace.”
Working Together for a Healthy Ocean
Carmabi calls on other nature organizations, governments, and citizens to also speak out in favor of a just and science-based approach to ocean management. The future of the ocean demands collaboration, courage, and leadership — now more than ever. Because there can be no healthy planet without a healthy ocean.
The full manifesto is available at: www.one-ocean-science-2025.org
Press Release: Carmabi Joins International Call: Science as a Guiding Principle for