Our Oceans, Seas and Coasts
A precious resource…
We all make use of our seas and oceans. Traditional uses (transport, fishing, tourism) now sit alongside more recent activities (mineral extraction, wind farms). The seas have enormous intrinsic value: unlike our cities, they provide us with a free horizon; we enjoy clean coastal and marine environments and the wildlife they support; and we benefit from their role in keeping our climate stable.
…under threat
But the unsustainable use of our seas threatens the fragile balance of marine ecosystems. Human activities that depend on the sea, such as fishing and tourism, suffer from damaged ecosystems and use-related competition will become increasingly serious.
What is the EU doing?
The EU Coastal and Marine Policy provides the legal impetus for the EU to protect and clean up its coasts, seas and oceans as part of an integrated strategy that will enable us to use them sustainably.
What’s new?
- Call for tenders now published!
 - 18/05/2012
- Open call for tender "Framework contract on emerging pressures, human activities and measures in the marine environment (including marine litter)" now published! Deadline for receipt of offers is 03/07/2012. Read more...
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02/05/2012
- Open call for tender "Framework contract for services related to development of methodological standards in relation to good environmental status of the seas under MSFD " now published! Deadline for receipt of offers is 13/06/2012. Read more...
- 02/05/2012
- Open call for tender "Framework contract for services related to coordination between the different marine regions in implementing the ecosystem approach" now published! Deadline for receipt of offers is 13/06/2012.Read more...
- National Public Consultation Procedures on the Marine Directive
 - 01/01/2012
- Member States have started their public consultation on the initial assessment of the status of their marine waters, the GES determination and the establishment of environmental targets. Read more...
- New Brochure “Seas for Life”
 - 01/11/2011
- The brochure "Seas for Life - Protected, Sustainable, Shared European Seas by 2020" was published in November 2011. Read it here !
- New Commission Document
 - 14/10/2011
- The Commission Staff Working Paper on the Relationship between the initial assessment of marine waters and the criteria for good environmental status was prepared in support to the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC). This technical document provides important guidance to Member States to accompany the Commission Decision of 1 September 2010 on criteria and methodological standards on good environmental status of marine waters. Together, these documents provide a better understanding of the Directive and will therefore allow Members States to take the necessary measures to achieve or maintain good environmental status in the marine environment by the year 2020. Read it here!
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