The European Union has presented its strategy to improve ocean protection, seeking to demonstrate its leadership ahead of the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, next week.
European Commissioner Costas Cadis emphasized that “the ocean is warming, its levels are rising, and its acidity is increasing. Pollution from plastics, chemicals, and noise is having a negative impact on marine ecosystems, and urgent action is needed.”
The European Ocean Plan calls for stronger rules to protect these ecosystems in the coming years. Environmental and non-governmental organizations have expressed concern about the lack of “immediate” action in this area.
As part of this plan, the EU will propose an Oceans Act by 2027, which will be presented to members of the European Parliament. To better protect biodiversity, the European Commission plans to revise two laws on the marine environment and marine spatial planning. The Commission also committed to creating “European Blue Carbon Reserves,” with the EU’s goal being to map and expand marine ecosystems capable of capturing more carbon dioxide.
To combat pollution, the Commission intends to strengthen the CleanSeaNet satellite monitoring system, which scans the seas for potential oil spills. However, a recent report by the European Court of Auditors revealed significant gaps in this system. Between 2022 and 2023, Member States responded to less than half of the alerts and confirmed pollution in only 7% of cases. This is largely due to the time lag between satellite image acquisition and at-sea inspections.
As part of this plan, the EU seeks to strengthen the fight against illegal fishing. As previously announced, the IT Catch digital fisheries certification scheme will become mandatory for fish imports into the EU in January 2026. The Commission also plans to present what it calls a “long-term vision” for fisheries and aquaculture in 2026.
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