Growing anxiety over Trump's unilateral push to fast-track deep-sea mining in international waters shot to the surface at the opening of the UN Ocean Conference in southern France.
Imposing a moratorium on seabed mining was “an international necessity”, said Macron.
Trump was not among the roughly 60 heads of state and government in the seaside town of Nice but his spectre loomed large as leaders defended the global multilateralism he has spurned.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called for “clear action” from the seabed authority to end a “predatory race” for deep-ocean minerals.
The deep sea, Greenland and Antarctica were “not for sale”, Macron said in further remarks directed clearly at Trump’s expansionist claims.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he supported these negotiations and urged caution as countries navigate these “new waters on seabed mining”.
'Wave of hope'
“Here in Nice, we can feel that the looming threat of deep-sea mining, and the recent reckless behaviour of the industry is seen by many states as unacceptable,“ said Megan Randles from Greenpeace.
Macron told reporters that 55 nations had ratified the high seas treaty, just five shy of the number required for its enactment.
According to the UN, 18 new ratifications took place on Monday, bringing the total to 50. Others could arrive in the coming days.
'Prove you're serious'
Greece, Brazil and Spain took the opportunity Monday to announce the creation of new marine parks, following recent similar action from Samoa.
Just eight percent of global oceans are designated for marine conservation, despite a globally agreed target to achieve 30 percent coverage by 2030.
Environment groups say that for marine parks to be considered truly protected they need to ban trawling and other harmful activities, and be properly funded.
Small island states are leading the charge for money and political support to better combat rising seas, marine trash and the plunder of fish stocks that hurt their economies.
“We say to you, if you are serious about protecting the ocean, prove it,“ said President Surangel Whipps Jr of Palau, a low-lying Pacific nation.
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