Overview

Today I have written to Fisheries and Environment Ministers of 22 European Union Member States about the issue of incidental catches of dolphins and other marine animals in EU waters, especially in the Bay of Biscay and the Celtic Sea,to urge them to collaborate in finding a solution for this situation. As the European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, I am fully committed to resolve this problem.

Statement by Commissioner Vella after the Agrifish Council, 19/12/2019

This map shows 33 shoreline types along Europe’s coasts, ranging from rocky cliffs and sand dunes to estuaries and man-made coastal defence. Zoom in to see how coastal erosion affects different shorelines. The map layer was developed through the EU-funded EUROSION project.

These free-floating instruments move with ocean currents and use sensors to measure conditions such as temperature, salinity and currents, and, in some cases, oxygen, turbidity or chlorophyll. The data are sent by satellite and contribute to marine forecasts and marine safety. Open access to this ocean information is possible through open marine data initiatives like EMODnet.

This week more than 290 policymakers, researchers, maritime experts and stakeholders gathered in Brussels for the second EU Maritime Spatial Planning Week. Through more than 15 sessions, the week provided a platform to exchange knowledge and strengthen cooperation across sea basins.

Call for Applications for Pitchers at BlueInvest Africa 2025, Togo – Deadline 30/04/25

The Commission has launched a second call for applications with a view to extending the membership of the group and achieving an appropriate balance of the interests represented by selecting organisations operating in the field of activities related to youth, fisheries and migration/integration.