The European Ocean Act

EMODnet, the EU in situ marine data service, is an existing operational public service with an unparalleled end-to-end ocean and coastal data service offer, uniquely placed to serve as the in situ marine data pillar of the EC Ocean Observation Initiative and European Ocean Act.

To our perception the EU and in particular in ocean policy -- should focus much more on the private sector including the SME world. Many SME are in a precarious situation and have only limited access to EU funding, which is usually only partial.

1. For an ocean-aware Europe The European Ocean Act should place ocean literacy and awareness at the heart of its implementation, applying an explicit ocean mainstreaming principle across EU policies. Citizens, businesses, and decision-makers must understand the oceans role in climate regulation, food security, digital infrastructure, and geopolitical stability.

The European Association of fish Producers Organisations welcomes the European Ocean Act initiative as the cornerstone of the Ocean Pact, following its adoption in June 2025. EAPO has already contributed significantly to consultations related to the European Ocean Pact over the last year, by publishing position papers, participating in implementation dialogues, public meetings, and numerous debates organized within…

Ocean energy is at a decisive moment in Europe. 15 publicly supported pre-commercial farms are set to be deployed by 2030. Several Member States have committed to large-scale deployment, showing the sector is ready for industrialisation. Europe can lock in global leadership by being the first continent to industrialise ocean energy.

Response by the Horizon Europe AMRIT Project Consortium representing the European ocean observation Marine Research Infrastructures. The AMRIT consortium welcomes the European Ocean Act as a timely opportunity to tackle persistent fragmentation in ocean governance and observation by providing a stable legal and operational framework at EU level.

OceanCare welcomes the European Commission's initiative to develop the European Ocean Act as a cornerstone of the European Ocean Pact. The establishment of a coherent and comprehensive governance framework for ocean-related policies represents a timely and necessary step to address the escalating pressures on marine ecosystems and to improve the effectiveness, consistency, and accountability of EU ocean governance.

We urge the European Ocean Act to strengthen the protection and restoration of ocean health, including deep-sea ecosystems and High Seas areas, by aligning EU policies, sectors and governance frameworks with the BBNJ Agreement and global biodiversity targets.

On behalf of the CrossGov project, which focused primarily on the role of and need for policy coherence in European coastal and marine governance, I would like to submit our note that summarizes our main recommendations for the Ocean Act. The recommendations can be grouped into three main categories: 1.

Submission to the European Commission Subject: Submission to the Call for Evidence on the European Ocean Act Ensuring Precautionary Governance and Rejecting Marine Geoengineering Date: February 9th, 2026 We appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the impact assessment of the European Ocean Act.

In order for the EU Ocean Act to ensure the health, resilience, and productivity of the ocean, it must advance solutions to the global threat posed by fossil fuel production and use. From oil and gas activity, to the full lifecycle of plastics, chemical use and the promotion of false solutions such as geoengineering, the fossil economy and speculative technologies that would prolong it are driving the triple…

The European Ocean Pact and the forthcoming Ocean Act represent an opportunity to strengthen the governance of Europes seas. For the North Sea - one of Europes most intensively used and economically strategic marine basins - this initiative is particularly relevant.

The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation supports the ambition of the EU Ocean Act to improve coherence, coordination and effectiveness of ocean governance. To achieve this, the Act must be firmly grounded in ecosystem-based management and make the achievement of Good Environmental Status (GES) under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive a central and binding objective.

Feedback from GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel on: What are the targets for modernizing maritime spatial planning (MSP) to implement the EU Ocean Pact priorities? 1. Broaden ecological scope of conservation targets beyond flagship species.

Please find attached our position paper from Satlink Group, an Ocean Data solutions provider for ocean observation both out of Satlink (Spain) and NKE (France). In case of any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me ([email removed]). Best regards, [name removed]

VLIZ supports a strong and ambitious EU Ocean Act. As key actor in ocean observation, data management, research infrastructures, ocean research (ocean-climate-biodiversity), citizen engagement, blue economy and innovation, science to policy and science diplomacy, VLIZ calls for a strong and clear legally binding framework that focuses on coordination and alignment of disperse and fragmented efforts, resources, and…

UiT the Arctic University of Norway welcomes the opportunity to provide evidence to the European Ocean Act initiative. Norway´s waters are situated from about 55 degrees N in the North Sea to 85 degrees N in the central Arctic Ocean and hence downstream from impacts from activities in the waters of EU member states. EU marine policies are therefore important to Norway, and as we all know, ecosystems have no borders.

The European Ocean Pact and the planned European Ocean Act are a timely and positive initiative aimed at improving the coherence of EU ocean-related policies and strengthening integrated marine governance. The recognition of increasing spatial pressures, cross-sector conflicts and the need for stronger coordination reflects real challenges currently faced by Member States.

This feedback builds on a policy brief developed under the Horizon Europe project MPA Europe (No. 101059988). It provides policy recommendations to stakeholders on how to leverage the results generated by MPA Europe, including standardized environmental and species distribution data, mapped distribution of organic carbon content in the seabed, and representative biodiversity areas (RBA) which show an optimal network…

The Marine & costal zones working group of the IUCN French Committee calls for the European Unions 2025 Ocean Pact to be translated into a strong, legally binding European Ocean Act by 2027. While the Ocean Pact represents an important political commitment, we stresses that only a robust legal framework can ensure effective marine conservation, restoration and sustainable use of ocean resources.

ZERO welcomes the European Commission’s initiative to launch the Ocean Act as a mandatory legislative response to the state of degradation of marine ecosystems and the systemic failure to achieve Good Environmental Status (GES) in European Union waters.

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Galicia, as a region with one of the greatest socio-economic dependencies on the sea in the European Union, considers this initiative to be of priority strategic importance. Professional fishing (artisanal and coastal), shellfishing, aquaculture, ports and other blue economy activities are essential pillars of employment, territorial cohesion, food sovereignty and cultural heritage.

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SURFRIDER FOUNDATION EUROPE welcomes the European Commissions commitment to put forward a renewed Ocean Act to establish more coherence within the EU ocean governance framework. Amid growing evidence of the deteriorating state of the Ocean and coastline, and the mounting effects of the triple crisis on these ecosystemsit is more urgent than ever to examine landsea interactions in depth.

The INTERNATIONAL FORUM for SUSTANAIBLE UNDERWATER Activites (IFSUA) is an organisation that seeks to enhance sustainable underwater activities. In our view, the European Ocean Act should be an opportunity to enhance and protect recreational self-consumption fisheries.

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Animal Welfare Foundation e.V. welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the Call for Evidence on the European Ocean Act. We wish to draw attention to a major and largely unaddressed source of marine pollution and safety risk: livestock vessels operating from and through European waters, including MARPOL Special Areas such as the Mediterranean and Black Seas.

Both, the lack of coherence and implementation including the lack of enforcement are key problems identified by the European Commission, as well as observed in practice by ClientEarth and stakeholders across the EU, including the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, the Birds and Habitats Directives, the Common Fisheries Policy, the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive and other ocean-related laws and policies.

If marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) is to be considered as a potential contribution to climate mitigation, it needs to be addressed at an early stage within marine spatial planning in order to anticipate spatial requirements, find synergies and avoid conflicts with existing ocean uses and ensure compatibility with marine protection, restoration objectives and sustainable ocean management.

The navigation sector has both economic and environmental interests in the forthcoming European Ocean Act. Commercial ports and shipping activities are crucial to a significant proportion of EU trade as well as supporting both jobs and supply chains. The health and wellbeing benefits of access to the blue and green environment are increasingly recognised.

As part of its participation in the French National Council for the Sea and Coastal Region (CNML) and the Sea-Façade Councils (CMF), France Nature Environnement (FNE) promotes maritime spatial planning that ensures that human activities are compatible with the good environmental status of the marine environment.

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Ocean Vision Legal is an international law firm specialising in Ocean Protection and its intersections with Climate and Human Rights. We take direct legal actions to hold actors accountable and enforce Ocean protection obligations (Ocean Litigation), advocate for new laws that acknowledge the intrinsic value of the Ocean (Ocean Rights) and provide pro bono consultancy for coastal and oceanic communities who are most…

The Ocean Act must become a defining pillar of the Unions environmental, economic and geopolitical strategy. By consolidating commitments, clarifying principles, strengthening governance and ensuring adequate financing, it can deliver the integrated ocean governance that Europe has long aspired to achieve.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Lower Saxony Ministry of the Environment, Energy and Climate Protection and the Lower Saxony Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection would like to thank you for the opportunity to submit their comments and, in particular, to forward the attached opinion on the planned European Maritime Act (Ref. Ares(2026)258640 – 12/01/2026).

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This contribution was prepared by mobilising and synthesising a corpus of peer-reviewed scientific literature cited in the bibliography (frameworks on knowledge systems and usable knowledge, systematic reviews on evidence use in public policy, research on co-production/participation and the integration of multiple knowledge systems, literature on the governance of observing systems, and analyses of MSFDMSPD…

Despite its existing framework to protect the marine environment, the EU is not on track to reach its environmental targets and to halt marine biodiversity loss by 2030 , due mainly to a lack of policy coherence, poor implementation, and siloed governance.

This contribution is submitted by OSF/IPOS as an evidencebased set of policy options for EU legislators in the context of the European Commissions Call for Evidence on the European Ocean Act. It was prepared by mobilising and synthesising the scientific publications and assessments referenced in the full submission, and translating that knowledge into actionable regulatory and implementation choices.

The EDF Group relies on a strong presence in coastal, estuarine, and maritime zones. This dynamic is part of EDF's strategy to increase low-carbon electricity generation, notably through the launch of an industrial program for three pairs of EPR2 reactors in France, two of which could be built on the coast at Penly and Gravelines, and through the development of marine renewable energies and off shore wind power by…

Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann (Irish Islands Federation) represents Irelands offshore island communities. Our members live with the sea every day. The marine environment is not an abstract policy space for island communities; it is where people work, travel, fish, maintain infrastructure, protect nature and sustain community life.

JPI Oceans Internal Advisory Committee welcomes the opportunity to provide evidence for a European Ocean Act. JPI Oceans is a transgovernmental platform that enables strategic alignment, co-design and co-investment in ocean knowledge and solutions among member countries. This experience informs our recommendations addressing the two key legislative shortcomings identified in the Call. 1.

I think we've not more possibilities to delay fundamental decisions about the Ocean, as Jeremy Rifkin teaches us in his last book: our planet is water. The Ocean Act is a very important program not only for biodiversity, climate changing but even for all people who live close to the sea, work with the Ocean.

The Directorate-General for Maritime Policy welcomes and acknowledges the merit of DG Mare in presenting this proposal, in particular with regard to its objectives of improving the coherence and effective implementation of maritime governance in the EU.

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Contribution of Sport and Citizenship to the Call for Evidence European Ocean Act Sport and Citizenship, the first European think tank dedicated to the societal impact of sport, welcomes the European Commissions initiative to develop the European Ocean Act as part of the European Ocean Pact.

The Ocean Act represents an opportunity to move European ocean governance from a framework of aspirational targets and voluntary commitments to a system of enforceable legal obligations grounded in science, coherence, and accountability. For too long, ocean policy has been characterised by the gap between stated ambitions and actual outcomes.

European Ocean Observing System (EOOS) provides a European coordination framework for ocean observation. Through its Steering Group (SG), EOOS brings together operational, scientific, and policy communities to provide strategic advice, promote coherence across sea basins, and strengthen ocean observation as a public good and a strategic asset for the EU.

Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) welcomes The European Ocean Pact. PML also looks forward to the Commission taking forward an Ocean Act 2027 although we would suggest that the need to implement a suitable governance framework for sustained ocean observations is of the utmost urgency and should not be left until the Act is in place.

The Brittany Region has for many years advocated a model of governance and regional maritime spatial planning which places equal importance on the development of leolien at sea, the preservation of biodiversity and the maintenance of professional fishing and aquaculture.

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The Renewables Grid Initiative, as convener and moderator of the Offshore Coalition for Energy and Nature (OCEaN), welcomes the European Commissions call for evidence on the European Ocean Act. In the attached document, OCEaN members from the North and Baltic Seas, representing the wind industry, NGOs, and electricity grid operators, share feedback to help shape the Act and reaffirm their commitment to continued…

The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) was established in December 1990 and is an all-Ireland group dedicated to the conservation and better understanding of cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) in Irish and other waters through increasing awareness, research, education, welfare activities and collaboration. The IWDG welcomes the opportunity to comment on the European Ocean Act.

EuroGOOS welcomes the European Ocean Act as a cornerstone of the European Ocean Pact and a timely response to long-standing structural challenges in European ocean governance and the knowledge and observation base underpinning effective policy implementation.

Coalition Clean Baltic (CCB) supports the Ocean Pact and Ocean Act objectives for improving coherence, coordination and effectiveness of EU ocean governance. Yet, in order to achieve these goals, the Act has to deliver truly ecosystem-based management of our seas and make reaching Good Environmental Status, as defined in the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), a cornerstone of the Act.

We welcome the call for evidence and would like to provide feedback on it. The poor environmental status of the seas highlights the need for action to reduce implementation gaps in marine protection and better manage uses.

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WindEurope looks forward to cooperating with the European Commission on a Marine Spatial Planning that balances environmental protection with the deployment of offshore renewable energy. Please find attached our feedback in detail. Our main messages are: 1. The MSP Directive is working well for offshore wind.

The Comité National des Pêches Maritimes et des Élevages Marins (CNPMEM), a professional organisation entrusted with public service tasks in the management of fishery resources and marine ecosystems, represents all professionals in maritime fishing and marine farming in France and overseas.

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Ørsted looks forward to cooperating with the European Commission towards a Marine Spatial Planning approach that ensures long-term strategic and internationally coordinated management of increasing usage of marine environments. MSPs should ensure a sufficient level of environmental protection while allowing for the necessary and efficient deployment of offshore renewable energies.

The Innovation Platform Sustainable Sea and Ocean Solutions (ISSS), a network of 10 RTOs across Europe, fully supports the European Commissions intention to improve the coherence and effectiveness of maritime governance in the EU through the Ocean Act.

Ports are central, yet largely ignored, actors of ocean health and ocean governance. Ports enable maritime trade, enforce rules applicable to ships, and connect trade to industries and transport. Although port operations and port-enabled shipping activities contribute massively to ocean acidification, biodiversity harm, Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, water pollution (e.g., waste discharges), etc., they are…

La Asociación de Navieros Españoles (ANAVE) es una organización empresarial de ámbito nacional, que coordina y representa los intereses de las navieras españolas que operan buques mercantes de transporte de mercancías y/o pasajeros. En la actualidad, nuestras empresas operan más del 97% de la flota controlada por navieras españolas.

Accounting for Climate Change and Ocean Acidification Across the European Ocean Act. The ocean absorbs approximately 25% of the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions released into the atmosphere. The addition of CO2 to the ocean is making seawater more acidified, thereby functioning as a global driver to a process we call ocean acidification or OA.

IFREMERs Vision for the European Ocean Act: A Strategic Framework for Sustainable Ocean Management IFREMER, a EU leading public institute for marine science and technology, plays a crucial role in advancing research, innovation, and data-driven policy support across national, European, and international levels.

While Oceana welcomes the Commissions intention to strengthen & modernise maritime spatial planning (MSP),reinforce the sea-basin approach & improve ocean observation governance,we're concerned that the currently envisaged scope of the EU Ocean Act (OA) may not solely be sufficient to address systemic barriers that have undermined achievement & implementation of the EUs ocean commitments.Without binding delivery…

The Arctic Six university alliance welcomes the European Ocean Act as a cornerstone of the European Ocean Pact. We explicitly align our position with the European Polar Board (EPB) statement on the Ocean Act. 1) Make the Polar dimension explicit in EU ocean governance The Act should recognise polar regions (Arctic and Antarctic) as coupled oceanlandcryosphere systems.

The National Institute of Aquatic Resources has contributed to monitoring of European marine ecosystems and living resources since decades and has based on this delivered advanced research, innovation and scientific advice within the Blue Economy together with European partner institutions.

The European Ocean Act has strong potential to become an overarching legal framework that ensures coherence, accountability and ambition across EU ocean policies. To be effective, it must reinforce existing international and EU commitments and ensure that all marine activities operate within ecological limits, guided by an ecosystem-based and precautionary approach.

LIFE welcomes the call for evidence with a view to developing a Directive for an Ocean Act based on the Ocean Pact, which will build on the revision of the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive. The upcoming Ocean Act is a key opportunity to halt and redress the SSF decline and support all its potential, by including key targets and provisions on the following principles: - Support SSF as a priority based on a…

Fugro supports the European Ocean Pact as a unified strategy to protect ocean health and to build a competitive and sustainable ocean economy. We welcome the proposed Ocean Act to streamline ocean governance, reinforce maritime spatial planning, and coordinate observation and data services across sea basins.

From a German fisheries perspective, the initiative of the European Commission to develop a European Ocean Act is welcomed as an opportunity to improve the coherence, coordination and effectiveness of EU ocean governance in the face of increasing ecological pressures, spatial competition and fragmented policy frameworks.

Within the European Union, ocean leadership must be demonstrated through action, not declarations. As biodiversity loss accelerates, the climate warms, and pressures on the deep sea intensify, the EU needs a strong, coherent, and fully implemented framework for ocean governance.

The project Carbon storage capacity of marine sediments in the German Baltic Sea (KomSO) welcomes the European Commissions initiative to develop a European Ocean Act as a framework to improve coherence across EU ocean policies and to strengthen the protection and sustainable management of marine ecosystems.

The Ocean Act should take into account legacy contaminants those emitted in the past and contained within bottom sediments as well as historical point sources, such as wrecks and dumped/lost munitions. All EU seas contain multiple wrecks containing fuel and /or hazardous cargo.

We submit this document in view of the implementation of the recently adopted European Ocean Pact, and with the purpose of contributing to the open problems in relation to Ocean Governance and Climate, Pollution and Environmental Pressure, on behalf of the European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling (ECORD), a non-legally binding organization established in 2003 in which funding agencies of 13 European countries…

Blue Cluster input to the European Ocean Act Blue Cluster has prepared an attached position note on the European Ocean Act, in which our detailed comments, recommendations, and rationale are set out. This accompanying note briefly highlights the main themes addressed in the position paper.

the Oceans Pact is a necessary action to preserve our planet. This strength must take into account the views of those involved in the environment, especially the people living in the environment, such as seafarers. Nobody is more interested in having a strong environment.

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EU Sea Basin Strategies are promoted by the European Commission and established through dedicated Ministerial Declarations by EU Member States and non-EU Countries in each region. Currently active in the Atlantic, western Mediterranean (WestMED), Black Sea (CMA) and North Sea (GNSBI) Sea basin Strategies offer a coherent policy framework for policy dialogue, technical cooperation, stakeholders engagement and project…

The Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (Spanish National Research Council, CSIC) contributes to the European Commissions call for evidence by outlining its scientific expertise, capacities and strategic vision to support the future European Ocean Act. The attached position paper includes the complete views of CSIC, which are summarised here below: 1.

She Changes Ocean is a collaborative platform designed to harness the knowledge, resources, and networks of women and women-led organisations working at the intersection of ocean conservation and gender equality. We welcome the initiative by the EU Commission to develop an Ocean Act. Attached is our contribution to the consultation.

SOCIB fully supports the European Ocean Act initiative and shares the Commissions assessment of fragmented ocean governance and observation in Europe. The Act offers a timely opportunity to establish a coordinated, long-term framework that recognises ocean observation as strategic public infrastructure underpinning biodiversity protection, climate adaptation, maritime safety and security, the sustainable blue…

The project Marine Extremes Transforming coAsts pathways for coastal adaptation across scales (METAscales) welcomes the European Commissions initiative to develop a European Ocean Act as a central instrument to improve coherence and effectiveness in EU ocean governance.

Europe's regional seas have failed to achieve Good Environmental Status (GES), the central goal in the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). Through the Common Fisheries Policy, all fish stocks were to be fished at sustainable levels by 2020 which has also not been achieved.

International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), representing 104 countries, faces growing challenges: rising data and user numbers across Blue Economy sectors, the need to adopt advanced technologies, increasing citizen science engagement, and heightened focus on the Oceanall aligning with the European Ocean Act objectives.

Eco-union welcomes the European Commissions initiative to develop a European Ocean Act as a strategic opportunity to strengthen maritime governance, reinforce the ecosystem-based approach, and promote the sustainable use of marine and coastal resources.

Shom, France's National Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service, provides physical knowledge of the ocean. It measures and describes sea levels, currents, marine sediments, swell, temperature, salinity, underwater noise, bathymetry, magnetic fields, etc., and predicts how they will change.

In light of the global targets established for 2030, including those set under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), the European Union now has a critical opportunity, through the forthcoming Ocean Act, to adopt robust and binding measures that reinforce the effective implementation of existing legislation while strengthening its ambition across key ocean policy areas.

The ocean plays a fundamental role in regulating the Earths climate system, acting simultaneously as a carbon sink, a heat regulator and a source of essential ecosystem services. At the same time, climate change is one of the main drivers of degradation of marine and coastal ecosystems, exacerbating biodiversity loss and increasing pressures on maritime activities and coastal livelihoods.

The French Ocean Observing System (Fr-OOS) provides high-level coordination of long-term and sustained ocean observation in France. It brings together the main French institutions involved in ocean observing. Its objective is to strengthen long-term in-situ observation at global, regional and coastal scales, supporting research, climate and weather monitoring, sustainable ocean and coastal management, and…

The European Ocean Act should explicitly address sea-dumped munitions and leaking wrecks (with health hazardous coal-derived fuels) as a longterm environmental, safety and spatial planning challenge in European seas, with urgency in the Baltic Sea.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Regional Office for Europe welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the upcoming European Ocean Act which aims to strengthen and modernise maritime spatial planning as a strategic tool that serves and implements the European Ocean Pacts priorities.

1. Although the bottom trawling in marine protected areas (MPAs) is limited by existing EU law, particularly the Habitats Directive and Natura 2000 obligations, its effective enforcement in not fully implemented. Therefore, The Ocean Act needs to tackle bottom trawling, a harmful practice that destroys seabed ecosystems, reduces biodiversity and releases long-stored carbon from marine sediments.

This initiative within the European Ocean Pact clearly demonstrates the necessity of updating the Marine Spatial Planning Directive and implementing a comprehensive, accessible ocean observation system. Both issues require cross-cutting coordination with various social actors, a fact that is well reflected in this proposal. However, we believe that some aspects could be further developed or clarified.

The European Ocean Act is a timely and necessary step to strengthen EU ocean governance. Its effectiveness, however, will depend on whether biological risk, ecosystem responses, and biodiversity considerations are embedded into maritime spatial planning (MSP) and ocean observation governance from the outset, rather than treated solely as downstream monitoring outputs.

BUND strongly supports the objective of the European Ocean Act to improve coherence, coordination and effectiveness of EU ocean governance. However, the Act can only succeed if it unambiguously strengthens existing EU marine environmental legislation and puts ocean health at the centre of all maritime activities.

Ports are a unique interface between land and sea and are in that respect fundamental to many, if not all, ocean-related economic activities. Our key recommendations are : - The sea basin approach works well and should be continued - In any policy making, the specificity of each port will need to be considered. The development of the blue economy will vary from port to port.

EurOcean welcomes the European Ocean Act as a timely and important initiative to strengthen coherent, knowledge-driven and inclusive ocean governance across Europe. The Act has strong potential to support the objectives of the European Ocean Pact by improving coordination across policies and sectors, reinforcing the sciencepolicysociety interface, and enabling the sustainable management and restoration of European…

From the experience gained through several European projects as well as supporting the French Authorities, Cerema would like to share a few considerations in relation with the initial policy measures proposed under the call for evidence.

EMD Blue Cities Declaration 2025 Our mission is to strengthen the collaboration between European coastal, port, and oceanic cities to champion sustainable maritime policies, foster innovation, and ensure the long-term health of marine environments. We aim to work closely with European institutions, policymakers, and local communities to drive meaningful change in maritime governance and economic development.

The CMCC Foundation (Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change) welcomes the opportunity to provide input for the forthcoming European Ocean Act. CMCC is a leading European multidisciplinary research center dedicated to studying the interactions between climate change and society, with expertise in ocean modeling, forecasting, and operational applications.

With this joint contribution, Europe Jacques Delors and the Oceano Azul Foundation call for the Ocean Act to be conceived as a foundational European ocean law, providing a coherent legal and political framework to elevate the ocean as a strategic asset for the Union and to deliver truly integrated ocean governance.

The EU MRP Directive provides good direction; improvement is possible under the EU Ocean Act. The Dutch North Sea Programme (PNZ) contains the national policy for the North Sea, our Maritime Spatial Plan (MRP) and is part of the National Water Programme (NWP) and is based on the precautionary principle. Land-sea interactions are part of the PNZ/NWP.

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This submission is made on behalf of the Sustainable Water Network (SWAN), an umbrella of 25 of Irelands leading eNGOs, national and regional, working together to protect and enhance Irelands water environment, through participation in the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and other water-related policy and legislation.

European Boating Industry (EBI) represents Europes recreational boating and nautical tourism ecosystem, including boatbuilders, equipment manufacturers, marinas and service providers. Access to coasts and waters is a core condition for citizens participation in water-based activities such as boating and watersports as well for the sectors competitiveness, and it should be treated accordingly in the revision of the…

Please find enclosed the full position of the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food of the Generalitat de Catalunya. In general, we call for the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive to be integrated into a single legal instrument, in order to avoid bottlenecks between environmental and socio-economic objectives, ensure greater strategic coherence and…

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Mundus maris stresses particularly the need for the forthcoming Ocean Act to: Enforce the existing provisions of the Common Fisheries Policy and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive through better collaboration with and compliance by EU Member States (the assessments have evidenced a significant implementation gap so that fewer benefits arise than could have been expected) Phase out the most harmful activities in…

EUCC (Coastal & Marine Union) welcomes the opportunity to contribute to this consultation and strongly supports an integrated approach that connects land and sea through the EU Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) Directive, building on the long-standing experience of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) in the EU and aligning with the ambitions of the forthcoming European Ocean Act.

Key considerations for the revision of the Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) Directive to support the Ocean Act Prepared by Researchers and MSP Practitioners from CORILA, CNR and IUAV (Venice, Italy) An extended version is attached. A first priority concerns data, knowledge, interoperability and interpretability.

The Spanish Ministry of Health considers it appropriate to explicitly strengthen the integration of human health into maritime spatial planning and governance processes. While the European Ocean Act adequately addresses key aspects such as climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, better consideration of the interlinkages between environmental pressures in marine and coastal environments and population health…

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Good Environmental Status (GES) has not yet been reached in the EU marine waters. These deficiencies are due to a lack of coherence between sectoral policies, a deficit in implementation and insufficient ambition of Member States in protecting marine ecosystems.

The Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership (SBEP) is a co-funded Horizon Europe partnership supporting Eu-ropean competitiveness and strategic autonomy by delivering innovative solutions to boost the green, digital and fair transition of ocean-related economic sectors across European sea basins and the Atlantic.

Fair Seas welcomes the European Commissions initiative to propose a European Ocean Act as the cornerstone of the European Ocean Pact and supports its ambition to establish a coherent and enforceable framework for EU ocean governance.

The Rethink Plastic Alliance welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the EU Ocean Act. We believe the Ocean Act is an opportunity to establish a coherent legislative framework with clear targets to reduce marine plastic pollution, while ensuring that existing legislation is effectively implemented and funded appropriately, and that additional measures to address microplastics are adopted.

Over the past decade, SBE has made an important leap forward across the Mediterranean, as a reliable driver/ accelerator for Sustainable Development, capable of bringing a wide range of inter-connected environmental, social, and economic benefits to unique yet fragile ecosystems, to citizens, and to the economies of the region.

The future European Ocean Law is a key opportunity to consolidate an integrated and effective ocean governance, geared towards the resilience of marine ecosystems, the sustainable use of resources and the territorial, social and technological cohesion of coastal and island regions.

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The CPMR strongly welcomes the European Commissions proposal to develop an Ocean Act and, in particular, its intention to anchor it in the revision of the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive (MSPD). This choice is seen as a strategic step towards strengthening coherence in EU ocean governance and reaffirming maritime spatial planning as a cornerstone of the European Ocean Pact.

This input reflects the interests of some Belgian federal and regional public authorities which, in the execution of their public mandate, are responsible for in-situ ocean observation in Belgian marine waters in different capacities, as a direct planner and undertaker of such observation, (or) as a funder of institutions undertaking such observations; (or) as a policy user whose requirements guide the planning and…

The European Ocean Act is a timely and necessary initiative. Its success will depend on whether it establishes a durable governance framework that recognises ocean observation as a core public infrastructure for European ocean governance.

In developing the Ocean Act, it is crucial to highlight that the EUs impact on the ocean extends well beyond its own maritime borders. The EU distant water fleet fishes across the worlds oceans, both on the high seas and in the Exclusive Economic Zones of a number of developing countries, thanks to controversial access agreements.

The Institute of Oceanography of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research welcomes the European Commissions initiative to strengthen coherence and the effective implementation of marine governance through the European Ocean Act.

The announcement in the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) in Nice in 2025 that the European Commission would publish an Ocean Act with legally binding commitments represented a watershed moment for marine protection.

IPNLF welcomes the goal of using the Ocean Act to provide a comprehensive and efficient legal framework to support thriving ecosystems and wellbeing of coastal communities. The creation of the Ocean Act is a crucial moment for the EU to commit to a just and regenerative blue economy aligned with the ecosystem approach and Ocean Protection Principle, both within EU waters and in the EUs capacity as a distant water…

MedPAN welcomes the forthcoming publication of the Ocean Act as it seeks to improve consistency between key EU policies and their implementation as well as a coherent and effective maritime governance. A greater coordination of all the different ocean-related targets is very much needed in a context of complex sea-basin governance.

The European Ocean Act should function as a legally binding framework that consolidates fragmented marine governance across sectors, comparable to the role of the European Climate Act. Responsibilities for fisheries, maritime transport, infrastructure, energy, pollution, and environmental protection are currently dispersed across multiple legal instruments, weakening coherence, implementation, and enforcement.

It's time to let the small fishermen (people who fish for their small business - sorry if I offend, but fisherpeople sounds strange to my ear) make a living on the sea. This can only happen if the large fishing companies stop scraping all life from the sea.

The policy paper presents a structured and relevant diagnosis of governance, maritime spatial planning and ocean dobservation issues. Two important dimensions could be further integrated in the initial framing of the initiative: (1) the role of lassurance actors in coastal and maritime risk governance, and (2) the explicit representation of the fundamental ecological interests of marine ecosystems in decision-making…

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Prohibit giant fishing vessels regardless of how they operate: we SAIT that resources are in danger, we SAIT that scraping the seabed destroys them, we SAIT how much electricity kills all around the affected area, we SAIT that species known for their fragile survival die in unsuitable nets or poorly designed cage systems. Who would have the right to continue knowing all this? Money has no rights on this planet.

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Mission Neptune can help translate the ambitions of the European Ocean Pact and the Ocean Act into concrete operational capacity, reducing fragmentation and accelerating the production of marine knowledge necessary for effective European ocean governance, in partnership with existing mechanisms such as the Global Ocean Observing System under IOC-UNESCO. 1.

Nestle Purina PetCare is committed to ocean health through restoration projects that regenerate kelp, seagrass and coastal habitats to boost biodiversity, carbon sequestration and fish nursery recovery. Purina supports the Act as a needed step to: Strengthen maritime spatial planning, integrating climate, biodiversity, and pollution considerations Enhance EU level coherence, avoiding fragmentation of ocean…

The European Molluscs Producers Association (EMPA) represents more than 90% of the European shellfish sector. Shellfish aquaculture accounts for over half of EU aquaculture production and is characterised by low trophic levels, minimal external inputs and a strong functional link with marine and coastal ecosystems.

Dear EU I think it is extremely important not just regulate our fishing methods to protect the regeneration of the fish and protect the sea and oceans ecosystems, also it is important to protect the small fishing which is more in tune with protecting this ecosystem!

Please, please stop bottom trawling in protective areas. I need not repeat the fact's as to the damage that is done by such practices. Just how can it be a protected area when such actions are allowed. It's not unlike shooting elephants in a game reserve!?

On behalf of the consortia of the two EU-funded projects CAMMera and MMinE-SwEEPER, we welcome the European Commissions initiative to develop an Ocean Act and the recognition, within the European Ocean Pact, of emerging actions related to unexploded ordnance (UXO) management.

The European Ocean Act aims to strengthen and modernise maritime spatial planning as a strategic tool that serves and implements the priorities of the European Ocean Pact. To this end, it aims to strengthen cross-sectoral coordination at national level and better organise the sea-basin approach. It also aims to improve ocean observation governance.

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The European Ocean Act must directly confront unsustainable fishing practices and harmful subsidies as the primary drivers of European ocean decline. Bottom trawling is an urgent crisis that causes catastrophic environmental and climate damage: - Releases 340-370 million tons of CO2 annually from disturbed seafloor sediments - emissions rivaling entire nations - Costs European society 10.8 billion annually, far…

MEDIGREEN project contribution to the Call for Evidence of the European Ocean Act MEDIGREEN early findings highlight the relevance of Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) as a framework supporting cross-sectoral policy implementation in Europe, contributing to the European Green Deal (EGD) objectives in the marine environment.

Coldiretti, the largest organisation representing farmers and fishers in Italy and Europe, with its 1.6 million members, welcomes the European Commission’s initiative to gather views on the topic of the new European Ocean Act. See detailed position paper attached.

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The National Association of Producer Organisations (ANOP) welcomes the European Commission’s initiative to strengthen ocean governance by drawing up a European Ocean Act, as part of the European Ocean Pact adopted in 2025.

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Carbon Gap sees a strong need of improving the coherence and effective implementation of EU ocean governance, especially when it comes to marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) The ocean represents a critical and still under-developed pillar of the EUs carbon removal strategy.

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) welcomes the forthcoming publication of the Ocean Act. The Act will serve to advance harmonisation between and implementation of key EU policies and initiatives, including to ensure a zero-tolerance approach to IUU fishing and associated practices.

We welcome the Commission's initiative to simplify and consolidate existing ocean related targets and legislation in EU policy with the Ocean Act. The existing fragmentation and inconsistency of EU regulations and policies regarding the oceans poses a major challenge for MSP in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea.

The conclusion from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Changes (UNFCCC) outcome of the first global stocktake (Article 35, 55 and 63d) is clear we need to restore the health of our coastal areas.

Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre would like to stress that the primary objective of the Ocean Act should be to restore and maintain a good environmental status of the ocean; the short-term goal should be improvement, while avoiding further (especially irreversible) damage. When developing a new Ocean Act, the issue of goal conflicts must be addressed.

The European Marine Board (EMB) strongly supports plans to improve coherence and effective implementation of maritime governance, particularly the reference to all Ocean-related targets in one instrument, and digitalised and standardised reporting and data formats to make Ocean data FAIR and open. Ocean observations are critical for understanding and managing EU waters considering the triple planetary crisis.

WRI Ocean Program strongly supports the European Commissions objective to improve coherence, effectiveness and implementation of EU ocean governance through an EU Ocean Act. The Act offers a major opportunity to strengthen maritime spatial planning (MSP), make sea basin coordination operational, establish a durable governance foundation for ocean observation, and reduce fragmentation and duplication in planning and…

We provide feedback on behalf of the Horizon Europe projects "BlueGreen Governance" and "PERMAGOV" in the attached document. We propose three main action paths, structured into 13 concrete actions (see attached document): ACTION PATH 1: IMPROVING THE GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK Action 1: Land-sea integration Action 2: Cross-sectoral strategies Action 3: Institutional coordination in multi-level settings Action 4: Policy…

The CNRS welcomes the European Commissions initiative to develop a coherent and forward-looking European Ocean Act. Our contribution highlights the role of robust scientific knowledge in guiding sustainable ocean management, the importance of integrating long-term ocean observation and monitoring into policy, and the need for coordinated European capacities to support evidence-based governance at sea-basin and…

IFAW believes the EU should adopt a single, coherent legislative framework to guide all its ocean policies. The proposed Ocean Act should fulfill this role by making the achievement of GES for all EU marine waters its primary objective. Please find attached IFAW recommendations for the preparation of the European Ocean Act.

FEAP welcomes the initiative to develop a European Ocean Act to support a more coherent, integrated and forward-looking approach to EU maritime governance. FEAP supports the objective of improving coherence and effectiveness of maritime governance, including spatial planning and observation, provided that the Act: recognises environmentally sustainable fish farming as a strategic food-producing activity…

The Aquaculture Service of the Regional Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development of the Regional Government of Andalusia considers that the future European Ocean Law should: — Strengthen the protection of designated Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and areas of priority use for the protection of biodiversity identified in the Maritime Spatial Planning Plans (MEOP).

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Response to the Call for Evidence on the Ocean Act JPI Oceans Blue Carbon Knowledge Hub The JPI Oceans Blue Carbon Knowledge Hub welcomes the European Commissions initiative to develop an EU Ocean Act as the legislative instrument to operationalise the European Ocean Pact.

The European Ocean Act should promote sustainability, social inclusion, biodiversity protection and the development of the blue economy, ensuring the viability of fisheries and aquaculture in the face of competition from other uses of maritime space. The attached document presents the comments for the public consultation on the Ocean Law, however, we highlight the following key points: 1.

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The Bundesverband der Energie- und Wasserwirtschaft e.V. (BDEW) represents the interests of more than 2000 companies in the energy and water sector in Germany. When preparing the future Ocean Act, the new high requirements for the EU’s resilience, independence and security must be among the top objectives and guide the adjustments.

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From a Black Sea regional perspective, maritime spatial planning and integrated ocean governance remain significantly less developed than in more mature sea basins such as the Baltic. The European Ocean Act therefore presents an opportunity to address long-standing structural gaps in cross-sectoral coordination, data availability, and sea-basin governance in the Black Sea.

With this joint contribution, Europe Jacques Delors and the Oceano Azul Foundation call for the Ocean Act to be conceived as a foundational European ocean law, providing a coherent legal and political framework to elevate the ocean as a strategic asset for the Union and to deliver truly integrated ocean governance.

Mercator Ocean International (MOi) is a nonprofit organisation currently transforming into an intergovernmental organisation. MOi works closely with, and on behalf of, the European Commission, particularly DG DEFIS, DG RTD, DG MARE and DG INTPA. It implements flagship EU programmes such as the Copernicus Marine Service as an entrusted entity and actively supports the development of the EU Digital Twin Ocean.

European Commission Call for Evidence - European Ocean Act - Part 3 of 3 7. Invest in federated, sovereign digital infrastructure as a foundation for operational ocean governance The EU's ambitions for ocean digital twins, real-time monitoring and data-driven enforcement depend on infrastructure that does not yet exist at the required scale.

European Commission Call for Evidence - European Ocean Act - Part 2 of 3 4. Address bottom trawling as a prerequisite for achieving Good Environmental Status Multiple assessments (e.g. ICES, JRC) show that in many EU sea basins, bottom trawling pressure is incompatible with achieving GES for seabed integrity and associated biodiversity descriptors..

European Commission Call for Evidence - European Ocean Act - Part 1 Europe is entering a decisive phase for the future of its ocean governance. The EU Ocean Pact provides an important strategic umbrella, but its impact will depend on whether it evolves into a coherent, enforceable and science based governance framework capable of addressing accelerating pressures on marine ecosystems.

Response by EMBRC ERIC, EMSO ERIC, Euro-Argo ERIC & ICOS ERIC to the Call for Evidence for the Ocean Act Research Infrastructures (RI) form the backbone of Europes long-term, transnational ocean observation capacity.

Orthongel is of course in favour of improving the coherence, coordination and effectiveness of European ocean governance. This improvement must consider seafood production as a priority to support the viability and competitiveness of European fisheries and ensure the EU’s food sovereignty. It must build on the Common Fisheries Policy as the exclusive framework for fisheries management.

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The Ocean Act offers an opportunity to strengthen coherent and climate-smart ocean governance across the EU. To fully achieve its objectives, the Act should explicitly recognise polar regions as coupled oceanland systems, encompassing the Arctic Ocean, the Southern Ocean around Antarctica, and their associated ice sheets, glaciers, permafrost, and coastal zones.

The European Aquaculture Technology & Innovation Platform (EATiP) thanks the European Commission for the opportunity to provide comment in a Call for Evidence concerning the European Ocean Act. EATiP is a not for profit multi actor platform considering and promoting technology, research and innovation that supports a sustainable European aquaculture sector.

European Shipowners | ECSA welcome the opportunity to give input to the forthcoming European Ocean Act and the upcoming revision of the Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) Directive. Please find our feedback enclosed. We remain at your disposal should you have any questions.

The upcoming European Ocean Act represents a crucial opportunity to strengthen the coherence between marine environmental protection, maritime operations, and technological innovation. One area that deserves stronger integration within the future framework is the prevention of biological pollution caused by ballast water discharge.

This submission draws on the Make Fishing Fair Roadmap, endorsed by 28 small-scale fishing organisations and nearly 20 NGOs across the EU. Current EU ocean governance remains fragmented across fisheries, environment, climate and maritime policies, resulting in inconsistent implementation, weak social outcomes, and limited participation of coastal communities.

The EU Ocean Pact is essential for protecting marine ecosystems while fostering sustainable economic growth. It aims to safeguard biodiversity, enhance marine resilience, and support coastal communities reliant on ocean industries. Growing demand for marine food strains fisheries and aquaculture, risking overfishing and pollution.

OPAGAC welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the call for evidence of the European Ocean Act, which is presented as a cornerstone initiative under the European Ocean Pact. OPAGAC supports the objective of improving coherence, coordination and effectiveness of EU ocean governance, provided that the initiative: Treats seafood production as a priority and overriding public interest; Fair respects the Common…

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With the recent entry into force of the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), alignment, coherence and coordination across EU policies, sectors, agencies and governance frameworks are more critical than ever.

Good morning, Below is the technical feedback on why "bottom trawling" is dangerous for the planet's health: 1. Carbon Release (The "Blue Carbon" Threat). The ocean floor is the worlds largest carbon sink. Sediments store vast amounts of carbon accumulated over millennia.Bottom-crawling gear stirs up the top layers of sediment, re-suspending sequestered carbon back into the water column.The Impact: This carbon can…

EU Ocean Act Submission Feb 4th 2026 To whom it may concern, We are delighted at this opportunity to participate and offer our input into the EU open call for submissions to its Ocean Act Public Consultation process. We hope you'll find our contribution beneficial and agree with our strong call that the Ocean Act has 'to demand that protected waters are actually truly protected!

Aquatic Life Institute welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the European Ocean Act. As an international non-governmental organisation working to improve the welfare of aquatic animals globally through policy, research, and engagement with decision-makers, we see this initiative as a timely and important step toward more coherent, effective, and forward-looking ocean governance in the European Union.

The European Ocean Act aims to strengthen and modernise maritime spatial planning as a strategic tool that serves and implements the priorities of the European Ocean Pact. To this end, it aims to strengthen cross-sectoral coordination at national level and better organise the sea-basin approach. It also aims to improve ocean observation governance.

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The UAPF welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the call for evidence on the European Ocean Law, presented as a flagship initiative of the European Ocean Pact. It is now essential to fully recognise fisheries as a genuine production sector, directly contributing to the European Unions food sovereignty.

We welcome the opportunity to contribute to the call for evidence of the European Ocean Act, which is presented as a cornerstone initiative under the European Ocean Pact. We support the objective of improving coherence, coordination and effectiveness of EU ocean governance, provided that the initiative: Treats seafood production as a priority and overriding public interest; Fully respects the Common Fisheries Policy…

The European Ocean Act is seen as a step towards a more integrated and data-driven approach to maritime governance in the European Union. From the point of view of seaports, it is important that the new legal framework supports the coherence of maritime policies, while taking into account the operational and infrastructure specificities of ports and their importance for transport continuity, security and resilience…

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This Position Paper offers a legal-dogmatic and policy-oriented analysis of the European Ocean Pact in response to the European Commissions Call for Evidence. From the perspective of the Interdepartmental Research Centre on the Adriatic and the Mediterranean (CiRAM), the Pact represents an opportunity to re-systematise the fragmented body of EU ocean-related norms and policies through a horizontal governance…

The Ocean Act offers a crucial opportunity to move EU ocean governance from planning and designation to implementation and delivery. While the MSPD has been important in organising maritime space and coordinating uses, its effectiveness in translating strategic goals into concrete, ecosystem-based management outcomes has been limited.

To include protection on underwater cultural heritage the following changes are proposed: Problem the initiative aims to address. 2. Climate, pollution and environmental pressures. — Intensification of coastal and marine use and strong land-sea interactions have increased climate, pollution and environmental pressures, and dams on underwater cultural heritage.

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Please find attached a link to a publication in the local newspaper Canarias 7 analysing the potential of the EU and the Canary Islands in the algae sector. The Canary Islands are an OR region with a very fragile economy dependent on tourism and therefore any development hub should be welcomed.

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EFFOP - Marine Nutrients Europe welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the Call for Evidence on the European Ocean Pact. EFFOP is the European trade association representing the European fishmeal and fish oil producers across Denmark, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Malta, and Spain.

AssIDMer welcomes the European Commissions European Ocean Pact and supports its objective of establishing a coherent and holistic framework for EU ocean-related policies. The Pact represents a timely response to the growing environmental, economic and geopolitical challenges affecting the marine environment.

Europêche welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the call for evidence of the European Ocean Act, which is presented as a cornerstone initiative under the European Ocean Pact. Europêche supports the objective of improving coherence, coordination and effectiveness of EU ocean governance, provided that the initiative: Treats seafood production as a priority and overriding public interest; Fully respects the Common…

We note, with regret, that almost all of the contributions to the consultation identify long-distance trawling as a real obstacle to achieving GHG status for all the maritime waters surrounding the continents. Many of these contributions are anonymous and appear not to be the result of personal reflections arising from the desire to know, explore and seek solutions to a problem, but as a sterile repetition of…

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The future European Ocean Act should be the binding foundation of a coherent, socially just and environmentally sustainable EU ocean governance framework. While the European Ocean Pact offers political direction, only a strong Ocean Act can set the principles, rules, participation duties and accountability mechanisms required to align all ocean policies.

MPAs are necessarily where any polluted freshwater systems enter the oceans; to maximise the positive effects to MPAs, States must ensure that water quality in the freshwater systems are not used as 'dumps' for effluents likely to cause pollution in that waterway, and subsequently, our oceans. 'Discharge' licences need to be thoroughly reviewed and assessed, especially when there are fishkills in any body of water.

Recreational marinas and nautical tourism should be explicitly recognised within the European Ocean Act as strategic coastal infrastructure supporting the sustainable blue economy, local employment and destination resilience.

The Ocean Act needs to focus a little more on the marine life, biodoversity and the safeguarding of the ecosystems rather than our human use of it. Or at least, address the human issues that we are creating - especially bottom trawling and wind park decomissioning.

Recreational marinas and Nautical tourism should be explicitly recognised within the European Ocean Act and the revised Maritime Spatial Planning Directive as strategic coastal infrastructure supporting the sustainable blue economy, local employment and destination resilience.

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the lack of coordination of other initiatives such as OSPAR. The complete lack of protection for Laminaria hyperborea seaweed beds off the Norwegian coast and other places. Currently 5,000 sqkm acknowledged loss.

I see the approach as appropriate and necessary with the main challenges identified. It is important to include considerations to adapt the legal framework and coordinate it in all productive activities, including aquaculture and not just fishing, transport or tourism as an activity with the potential to be developed in the framework of the Blue Economy. It should be mentioned in the following paragraph: 1.

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MEDAC Advice on Marine Spatial Planning and the Role of OECMs in the Mediterranean (see the attached advice) Conclusions and considerations of the MEDAC advice: - Ensure structured consultation of stakeholders, particularly fisheries representatives, within MSP processes at national and regional level. - Ensure consideration of existing fisheries management measures (e.g.

The Ocean Act must address bottom trawling, a destructive practice that devastates seabed ecosystems, drives biodiversity loss, and releases safely stored carbon all while undermining small-scale fishers and coastal communities. The EU must enforce existing law, including the Habitats Directive Natura 2000, to eliminate bottom trawling in marine protected areas (MPAs).

1) Please consider adding in: A. Political context, problem definition and subsidiarity check. 2. Climate, pollution and environmental pressures; following point: "It is necessary to disseminate knowledge about climate change and the effects of these processes, as well as the diversity of connections between the ocean-land system, more widely to better understand the changes taking place in the environment and to…

1. The general classification of people for animal rights in Baden-Württemberg welcomes the European Commission’s initiative to strengthen the protection of the seas through the European Ocean Act and to implement existing policy objectives more effectively.

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We at Fürstenberg Maritime Advisory are a small consultancy assisting maritime industry actors with the development of their sustainability strategy. We help companies engaged in the sea transport value chain, be it actual ship owners / operators or others, with finding ways to be more sustainable.

On behalf of WildlifeoPedia, a youth-led initiative dedicated to wildlife conservation, ocean protection and public awareness across Europe, we strongly welcome the European Commissions Call for Evidence for the upcoming EU Ocean Act.

The European Ocean Act must be a bold, science-driven framework that protects the full ecological integrity of EU seas in three dimensions: from the surface to the ocean floor. 1. Immediately phase out destructive bottom trawling in Marine Protected Areas.

Seaweed, Climate Action, and Integrated Aquaculture Carbon sequestration must be a core objective of EU ocean and aquaculture policy. Seaweed cultivation should be explicitly recognised and supported as a nature-based climate solution, with clear carbon-fixation targets, monitoring standards, and long-term ecosystem benefits.

The Ocean Act must take a clear stand against bottom trawling. This practice tears through seabed ecosystems, destroys habitats that have taken centuries to form, and releases carbon that the ocean has safely stored over generations. Once these ecosystems are damaged, they are extremely slow or impossible to recover. The laws meant to protect the ocean already exist.

The Eco Maires association, as a network of mayors and local elected officials committed to the environment and sustainable development, recognises the European Commissions initiative as a critical opportunity to tackle climate and environmental pressures faced by local communities and territories particularly in coastal, island, and outermost regions.

The Ocean Act must address bottom trawling, a destructive practice that devastates seabed ecosystems, drives biodiversity loss, and releases safely stored carbon all while undermining small-scale fishers and coastal communities. We need the planet more than it needs us.

Hi there To whom this concerns Protecting the ocean means safeguarding endangered species, restoring ecosystems, and ensuring a profitable future for traditional fishing communities across Europe. I personally support good use of our oceans by from sustainable fishing business and not buying bottom from bottom trauled. Much appreciate you reading my thoughts. Mitch

Believing all ecosystems belong to humans to explore is extremely selfish and ignorant. Destroying the bottom of the ocean to build infrastructures at the cost of sea life ecosystems is self-destroying our human health. We depend on the marine health for our own health. And after destruction, rebuilding is no longer possible.

Contribution to the Call for Evidence for an Evaluation and Impact Assessment of the European Ocean Act (EOA) Submitted from the perspective of the Fishing Vessel Ocean Observing Network (FVON) We welcome the ECs initiative to develop the EOA, planned for adoption in 2026, as a cornerstone of the European Ocean Pact.