Ocean Pact announcement poster with text on top of photo with two whales swimming in water

The European Commission adopts the Ocean Pact to strengthen the sustainable blue economy

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The European Ocean Pact was adopted on 5 June 2025, by the European Commission, just ahead of World Oceans Day on June 8.

The European Ocean Pact is a comprehensive strategy adopted by the European Commission to protect marine life, strengthen the blue economy, and support coastal communities. It brings together various EU ocean policies under a single, coordinated framework, focusing on six priority areas:

  • Restoring Ocean Health: Strengthening efforts to restore marine and coastal ecosystems, expand marine protected areas, and improve ocean resilience.
  • Boosting the Blue Economy: Supporting sustainable fisheries, promoting innovation in maritime industries, and launching a Blue Generational Renewal Strategy to attract young professionals.
  • Supporting Coastal and Island Communities: Developing tailored strategies to enhance the resilience and economic sustainability of coastal regions.
  • Enhancing Maritime Security: Strengthening coast guard cooperation, improving maritime surveillance, and reinforcing border security.
  • Advancing Ocean Research and Innovation: Establishing an EU Ocean Observation Initiative to improve data collection and knowledge-sharing.
  • Strengthening Ocean Diplomacy:  Expanding EU efforts in international ocean governance and combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.

Areas of action

To support Member States restore degraded coastal and marine habitats, the European Ocean Pact proposes to:

  • Evaluate and revise the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive
  • Encourage Member States to establish and manage marine protected areas
  • Create European blue carbon reserves

What’s next

This Ocean Pact will be complemented by an Ocean Act to be presented by 2027, ensuring the implementation of its priorities. The Commission will also set up a high-level Ocean Board, bringing together representatives from various ocean-related sectors, and launch an EU Ocean Pact dashboard, providing a public, transparent and centralised platform to track progress towards its objectives.

For more information visit the European Commission website:  Full press release | Ocean Pact webpage