Participation in UN-Oceans is open to United Nations system organizations with competence in activities related to ocean and coastal areas and the International Seabed Authority. Entities which are members of UN-Oceans are represented at meetings by their nominated focal points.

There are currently 30 members of UN-Oceans:

  1. Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED)
  2. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA)
  3. Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs (DOALOS/OLA)
  4. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
  5. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
  6. Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (IOC-UNESCO)
  7. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
  8. International Labour Organization (ILO)
  9. International Maritime Organization (IMO)
  10. International Seabed Authority (ISA)
  11. Office for Disarmament Affairs (ODA)
  12. Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS)
  13. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
  14. Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
  15. Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
  16. Secretariat of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)
  17. Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention to Combat Climate Change (UNFCCC)
  18. Secretariat of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage (UNESCO 2001 Convention)
  19. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
  20. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
  21. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage Centre (UNESCO)
  22. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
  23. United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
  24. United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)
  25. United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
  26. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC)
  27. United Nations University (UNU)
  28. World Bank (WB)
  29. World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
  30. World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)

There are also currently two standing observers:

 

Representatives of the Chief Executives Board for Coordination/High-Level Committee on Programmes (CEB/HLCP) also attend UN-Oceans meetings.