In mid August United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon announced the launch of 'Oceans Compact', an initiative aiming to bring together all parts of the UN system in order to improve the coordination and effectiveness of its work towards the health of the oceans and enhanced marine knowledge and management.

The Oceans Compact intends to mobilize the UN system´s capacity to support action by Governments while promoting the engagement of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, scientists, the private sector and industry to tackle challenges in protecting and restoring the health and productivity of the oceans for the benefit of present and future generations. It sets out a strategic vision, consistent with the Rio+20 outcome document, "The Future We Want", in which countries agreed on a range of measures to be taken to protect the oceans and promote sustainable development.

The Oceans Compact supports the implementation of relevant existing instruments, in particular the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. With the common goal of achieving "Healthy Oceans for Prosperity", the Compact establishes three objectives:
- protecting people and improving the health of oceans;
- protecting, recovering and sustaining ocean environments and natural resources; and
- strengthening ocean knowledge and management.