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The European Commission has unveiled its European Ocean Pact but the package has met with a mixed response.
The EU calls it a comprehensive strategy to better protect the ocean, promote a thriving blue economy and support the well-being of people living in coastal areas.
The Pact brings together EU ocean policies under one single reference framework, addressing the significant threats facing oceans, coastal communities, islands and outermost regions.
EC President Ursula von der Leyen said: “Ocean is water, water is life. That is why the European Ocean Pact is so important to us. This comprehensive strategy will protect the ocean and promote a sustainable blue economy. It will not only benefit the planet, but also the people who call the coast their home, and the generations who will steward our oceans tomorrow.”
Reaction came from Isabella Lövin, Greens/EFA MEP and member of the EU parliament Committee on Fisheries, who said, “The Ocean Pact is a major and important step in the right direction. A comprehensive approach to issues concerning the ocean is something we have long advocated for. What the Commission is proposing today is establishing an Ocean Act at the EU level – something we have proposed and very much welcome. We will now closely follow the work. In order to reverse the deterioration of our seas, land-based activities such as agriculture must also be included.”
“It is also a breakthrough that the Commission, in this pact, places an urgent specific ‘holistic’ focus on reversing the catastrophic development in the Baltic Sea. We must now carefully ensure that these ambitions are translated into concrete action. We need to see a recovery plan for the Baltic Sea, and ministers in the member states must act in parallel and enforce radically reduced fishing quotas, especially for herring, which otherwise risks collapsing just as the cod has already done.
“It is however worrying that the Commission is not closing the door on reopening the Common Fisheries Policy, which risks weakening the environmental components of the regulations.”
Lövin and colleagues Rasmus Nordqvist and Mélissa Camara will attend the upcoming UN 2025 Ocean Conference in Nice (9-13 June).
However, campaigners have criticised the Pact saying it fails to set legally binding targets for protecting at least 30% of EU seas by 2030, including 10% under strict protection.
They say it also lacks a clear plan to phase out destructive activities in marine protected areas.
This is according to the IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare), a global non-profit group.
“The Commission has missed the opportunity to put Europe’s seas on a strong, protected path – this Pact doesn’t deliver the ambition or tools we urgently need,” said Ilaria Di Silvestre, Director of Policy and Advocacy, Europe, at IFAW. “What it needs are enforceable goals, proper funding and meaningful action, not just promises.”
In a statement, the group said, “The Pact’s Enforcement Strategy remains vague and lacks the capacity and mechanisms needed to ensure compliance with EU ocean laws. Funding is also uncertain, putting implementation at risk.”
IFAW is also concerned about the Commission’s plan to present a guidance document on managing predators.
“It is crucial to recognise that every species is an essential part of its ecosystem, and using some as scapegoats for long-term policy failures is not supported by science,” it states.
Even so, an encouraging and welcome aspect of the Pact, it adds, is the reference to the soon-to-be-launched High Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean.
“Commitment to this international initiative signals the EU’s commitment to prioritising and pursuing solutions that address the significant impacts of underwater noise on marine biodiversity. Despite relying on this and other global commitments, rather than leading with its own policies, joining this Coalition does send a strong message that the EU will step up and take action to reduce underwater noise pollution in European waters,” it says.
IFAW says it also considers that the reference to a potential revision of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) is an opportunity to improve its implementation and adopt legally binding measures to achieve good environmental status across EU seas.
Currently, 97% of EU marine areas fall short of that standard. One key factor, says IFAW, is continuous underwater noise, mostly from commercial shipping. While efforts to address this have begun, they remain focused on data collection rather than reducing noise at the source.
“Underwater noise is a well-known issue with serious consequences,” said Di Silvestre. “The science is clear. It is now essential to adopt legally binding measures that will deliver real results.”
IFAW’s proposed Blue Speeds solution offers a practical way forward, it claims.
By reducing ship speeds by just 10%, underwater noise from shipping can drop by 40%, greenhouse gas emissions from the sector by 13%, and the risk of whale collisions by half. Additional benefits include improved air quality and fuel savings for the shipping sector.
“Blue Speeds is a simple, cost-effective measure that delivers for the climate, marine life and human health,” added Di Silvestre. Now, the EU institutions need to act.”
