Press releases/news articles

EUBeachCleanup is the EU’s own cleaning action, taking place worldwide every autumn. But the EU also supports a number of other marine litter projects. Cleaning beaches is a tangible way for citizens to take action for the environment and useful in building public awareness. But what happens to the litter that gets picked in such cleanups, and specifically, what about plastics? The “Litter Spain” project has an answer to this question, with two very important advantages: circular economy and social inclusion.

The EU contributes to sustainable oceans worldwide by concluding Sustainable fisheries partnership agreements (SFPA). While these agreements allow EU vessels to fish for surplus stocks in the exclusive economic zone of third countries, they also support local growth and social empowerment.

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Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMO) manage fish stocks by geographical area. They are international organisations formed by countries with fishing interests in an area. The organisations are open both to countries in the region ('coastal states') and countries with interests in the fisheries concerned. The European Union, represented by the Commission, plays an active role in six tuna organisations and 11 non-tuna organisations. Click on the RFMOs in the map to access their websites.

The European Commission has launched two targeted consultations to ask stakeholders to contribute to two upcoming reports: the report on the functioning of the common fisheries policy (CFP) and the report on the common market organisation (CMO).

The European Commission has launched a targeted consultation to ask stakeholders for their involvement in shaping the upcoming action plan to conserve fisheries resources and protect marine ecosystems.

Ocean, seas and waters are precious resources for the planet and for our well-being. With a 2030 target, the Mission ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters’ puts research and innovation, citizen engagement and blue investments at the service of healthy marine and freshwater ecosystems.

The Sealogy Exhibition. A major international, annual blue economy event in Ferrara, Italy, and one of the rare occasions these days to meet people – blue economy stakeholders, exhibitors – in the ‘real world’.

EU Fisheries Ministers have agreed fishing opportunities for 2022 for the Mediterranean and the Black Seas.

Today, the Council agreed on fishing opportunities for 2022 for the fish stocks exclusively managed by the EU in the Atlantic, Kattegat and Skagerrak and for stocks shared with Norway bilaterally and with Norway and the United Kingdom trilaterally, following the agreement reached last Friday.

Today the UK has issued 18 licences for EU replacement vessels in the UK territorial waters and 5 licences for EU vessels to access Jersey waters.

The trilateral arrangement between the EU, Norway and the United Kingdom on jointly managed fisheries stocks in the North Sea for 2022 establishes the total allowable catches (TAC) and quota sharing covering over 683,000 tonnes of fish.

On 7 December, the UN General Assembly debated and adopted two resolutions on “Oceans and Law of the Sea” and on “Sustainable Fisheries”, aiming to ensure that oceans and seas can be the basis for sustainable development and provide for the needs of current and future generations.

The Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) is a new €2 billion partnership between the European Union and a consortium of bio-based industries.

On 1 March 2022, European Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius will host the second ‘Pan-European Cruise Dialogue’ in Brussels.

Today, the continuous efforts of the European Commission have led to Guernsey granting permanent fishing licences to 40 vessels, and declaring 3 others as meeting the qualification criteria.

On 5 October 2021, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO) and the European Commission organised the online final conference of their joint MSPglobal Initiative.

EU and Seychelles representatives met on 24-26 November in Victoria, Seychelles to take stock of the 2020-2026 Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA).

EMD 2022, the annual EU meeting point on maritime affairs and sustainable blue growth, and the place where ‘Ocean Leaders Meet’, will take place in Ravenna, Italy on 19 & 20 May 2022. As every year, this will not be the only action to celebrate our seas and oceans.

Today, the European Commission completed its proposal for the 2022 fishing opportunities in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, adopted on 17 September 2021.