Prince William today issued a powerful call for urgent global action to protect the world’s oceans, warning that time is running out to reverse the damage done to marine ecosystems.
Speaking at a high-level event marking World Oceans Day in Monaco the Prince of Wales urged nations, businesses, and individuals to “act together with urgency and optimism.”
He stressed the importance of meeting the international goal of protecting 30% of land and sea by 2030.
Currently, just 3% of the ocean is fully protected — a figure the Prince described as dangerously low, at the environmental summit.
“The ocean is under enormous threat, but it can revive itself,” he said. “Only if together, we act now.”
In his remarks on Sunday, William emphasised the vital role oceans play in sustaining life on Earth, from regulating the climate to providing oxygen and feeding over 3 billion people worldwide.
But rising sea temperatures, overfishing, and plastic pollution, he said, are jeopardizing this fragile balance.
“What once seemed an abundant resource is diminishing before our eyes,” he warned.
The Prince used the platform to highlight success stories from The Earthshot Prize, the environmental initiative he founded to promote innovative climate solutions.
He spotlighted Coral Vita, MiAlgae, and Pristine Seas — three organizations whose pioneering work is helping to restore marine habitats, reduce overfishing, and expand marine protected areas (MPAs).
Coral Vita, co-founded by Sam Teicher and Gator Halpern, won The Earthshot Prize in 2021 for its method of growing climate-resilient coral up to 50 times faster than in nature.
Since then, the company has launched a major restoration project in the Bahamas and is expanding globally.
Another standout is MiAlgae, founded by Earthshot Prize finalist Douglas Martin, which produces Omega-3 from algae instead of wild-caught fish.
The startup has already saved 2.4 million fish and recycled enough wastewater to fill 300 Olympic swimming pools.
And Enric Sala, a marine ecologist and founder of Pristine Seas, has helped create 29 of the world’s largest MPAs — areas where marine life is safeguarded from exploitation.
His work, recently featured in a documentary by Sir David Attenborough, offers scientific proof that protected areas lead to stronger ecosystems and economic benefits for coastal communities.
William praised these innovators as proof that change is not only possible but already happening. But he warned that their efforts require scale, investment, and policy backing to have global impact.
“These brilliant minds cannot do it alone,” he said. “They need support to reach their potential, and they need to be backed by ambitious action on a global, national, and local level.”
The Prince closed with a hopeful but firm appeal, echoing Attenborough’s message: “If we save the sea, we save our world.”
He concluded: “Halfway through this decisive decade, I call on all of you to think big in your actions… for the future of our planet, and for future generations.”
The speech, delivered partially in French, was met with warm applause and marks a key moment in the run-up to the 2030 biodiversity targets agreed at COP15.
“Together, we have signed up to an ambitious global commitment to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030. It is our best chance of reversing the damage done to our planet and restoring its wellbeing,” he said.
“But the clock is ticking. 2030 is fast approaching, and only 17% of land and just 3% of the ocean has been fully protected.
“If we are to reach our goal, we urgently need to take bold action to protect and restore our planet.
“We must realise the potential of the Blue Economy for our ecosystems, our economies and our communities. ”
As climate challenges mount and ocean health continues to deteriorate, today’s message from Marseille was clear: the time to act is now.
