During Ocean Week in Brussels (30 September – 4 October), 140 organisations urged the newly elected EU institutions to take bold measures to protect Europe’s oceans and coastlines. These include launching an Ocean Fund and banning destructive activities at sea.
On 1 October, the Blue Manifesto, led by Seas At Risk, BirdLife Europe, ClientEarth, Oceana, Surfrider Foundation Europe, and WWF, was presented at the European Parliament. The manifesto advocates for an ambitious Ocean Deal, urging the EU to prioritise ocean health in its decision-making. This follows European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s pledge to create a “European Ocean Pact.”
An NGO spokesperson stated, “… Europe’s seas are at a tipping point, having been overexploited due to the relentless pursuit of “blue growth”. That’s why, this Ocean Week, we launch the Blue Manifesto – our step-by-step roadmap to a healthy ocean backed by 140 organisations.
“The announcement of a European Ocean Pact marks a step in the right direction from the EU. However, aligning the Pact with the policy roadmap outlined in the Blue Manifesto will be crucial to ensuring meaningful, long-term ocean protection, as will proper funding to support it. There is no time to waste – if we don’t want an ocean that’s polluted and degraded, the EU must implement the measures outlined in this manifesto without delay.”
The Blue Manifesto’s Key Demands
The Blue Manifesto calls on the EU to:
- Better Use of Resources: Remove harmful subsidies and redirect funds to an EU Ocean Fund, increase enforcement resources, and ensure seafood traceability.
- Improved Marine Protection: Ban destructive activities like bottom trawling in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), set binding targets for protecting 30% of EU seas by 2030, and ban deep-sea mining.
- Pollution Control: Support a Global Plastic Treaty, enforce bans on harmful chemicals, and introduce ship speed reductions.
The manifesto also demands a just transition to a blue economy, aligned with ecological limits and sustainable practices. The six NGOs leading the manifesto highlight concerns about the EU’s lack of concrete action on ocean health. Despite annual assessments, EU Member States have consistently missed key targets, including ending overfishing and achieving Good Environmental Status.
The Blue Manifesto is available online alongside a promotional video.