The European Union (EU) has announced 40 commitments worth €3.5 billion to “protect the ocean and promote sustainability.” Unveiled on April 16 at the Our Ocean Conference in Greece, the pledge represents “the biggest amount ever announced by the EU since the start of Our Ocean Conferences,” the EU writes.
The conference, launched in 2014 to help preserve marine ecosystems and promote sustainable practices, has mobilised over 2,160 commitments worth approximately $130 billion since its inception.
The EU’s 40 commitments span a spectrum of critical areas, including sustainable fisheries, marine protected areas, ocean and climate change, sustainable blue economies, marine pollution, and maritime security, among others.
Here’s how the €3.5 billion, which will come from “various EU funds,” will be distributed:
Sustainable Fisheries
- Up to €1.9 billion, under the Recovery and Resilience Facility, will go to bolstering sustainable fisheries in Greece, Spain, Cyprus, Poland, and Portugal.
- €23.5 million (in 2024-2025) will support Regional Fisheries Management Organizations, Regional Fisheries Bodies, and enhance international cooperation in fisheries management across the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic and Antarctic Oceans, and the Mediterranean and Black Seas.
- €1.5 million is dedicated to combatting illegal fishing activities by supporting the implementation of the Port State Measures Agreement.
Marine Protected Areas
- €1.36 million will go to bolstering the implementation of the Marine Biodiversity of areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement.
- €24 million is allocated toward safeguarding marine biodiversity in key regions such as the Blue Benguela Current and the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.
Ocean and Climate Change
- €103 million will be invested in ocean observation programs (Copernicus, Wekeo, Neccton) and research initiatives to advance climate prediction models.
Sustainable Blue Economies
- Also under the Recovery and Resilience Facility, €130 million will be “used in Italy and Portugal’s recovery and resilience plans to support two investments (2020-2026) in sustainable blue economy.”
- €134 million is committed to facilitating the sustainable development of African countries’ blue economies. This includes €59 million for Western Africa, €10 million for Mauritania, €35 million for Mozambique, €30 million for Angola.
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Marine Pollution
- Up to €980 million will go to combatting marine pollution through targeted investments and reforms in Greece, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, and Finland.
Maritime Security
- €45 million will be used to “enhance maritime security and safety in the Western Indian Ocean and Gulf of Guinea regions in Africa.”
Support to the Mediterranean
- A joint commitment of €7.5 million by the EU and Sweden to the Blue Mediterranean Partnership will foster sustainable blue economy practices in the Mediterranean.
- €2 million is pledged to support the implementation of ecosystem-based approaches in the Southern Mediterranean region.
Research
- A commitment of €92.3 million — through the EU Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters — will go to advancing research and initiatives for ocean restoration and sustainable blue economy.
With the world’s oceans facing mounting threats from climate change, pollution, overfishing, and habitat degradation, the EU’s commitment to ocean conservation comes at a pivotal moment. By spearheading such substantial financial commitments, the EU also sets a precedent for global leadership in environmental conservation, underscoring the urgency of concerted action to protect our oceans.
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of Impakter.com — Cover Photo Credit: Marek Okon.
