Last month brought grim news: The Great Barrier Reef, the largest coral system in the world, is experiencing its fifth mass bleaching event in the past eight years. Unfortunately, it’s far from alone. Reef habitats in the Atlantic, Pacific, and potentially Indian Oceans are also likely to experience bleaching in the coming months.
The ocean is our greatest ally in our fight against the climate emergency - and the EU now has a golden opportunity to protect people, wildlife and our planet by supporting it, write Alex Rogers and Steve Trent.
2021 marks the start of the UN Decade on Ocean Science – a chance to move away from past mistakes where EU decisions were not always made based on the best-available science or even went against scientific advice, writes Antonia Leroy.
Beyond its decarbonisation goals, the Green Deal aims to create entirely new industries and jobs, reframe our relationship with local environments and natural resources, and re-prioritise fairness and quality of life. A powerful step-change by a confident young Commission, or just admirable intentions? A new initiative on ocean energy may prove to be an important barometer, writes Rémi Gruet.
The EU's new Biodiversity Strategy will increase the EU’s network of marine protected areas, writes Virgilius Sinkevicius
The EU has a historic opportunity to protect the Southern Ocean at the upcoming EU-China summit, write Geneviève Pons and Pascal Lamy.
The EU should match its rhetoric on sustainable fisheries by leading global efforts to preserve mako sharks, argues Staci McLennan.
As global leaders met at the world’s first Sustainable Blue Economy conference this week, the EU must face the sobering reality of the state of our ocean and stand by its commitments to sustainably protect and effectively manage Europe’s seas before it’s too late, writes Dr Samantha Burgess.
The high seas make up nearly two-thirds of the world’s ocean, but less than 1 percent is currently protected. All this could change this September, when governments come together at the United Nations for an intergovernmental conference to negotiate a new treaty that would create a mechanism for protecting these ocean areas, writes Liz Karan.
On World Ocean Day (8 June), it is important to bring back to the forefront the debate of overfishing which is undermining the health of our oceans. Five years after the reform on the EU Common Fisheries Policy nothing much has changed, and discarding at sea is still common practice, writes Rebecca Hubbard.
Plastic is everywhere, polluting our waters, choking marine wildlife, and even in our food and water. It is a problem of global proportions but an ambitious EU Plastics Strategy can create vital momentum, writes Pierre-Yves Cousteau.
2017 will be remembered as the turning point in how the international community works together to protect the ocean, write Karmenu Vella and Isabella Lövin.
There is currently no legal mechanism for creating Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) on the high seas. A proposed agreement by the UN looks to rectify that, writes Sophie Mirgaux.
Today, as we celebrate World Water Day, I would like to highlight the issue of so-called ‘blue growth’. Our oceans can offer enormous opportunities to millions of people, but only if their ecosystems are preserved, writes Linnéa Engström.
The EU has some of the world’s toughest legislation aimed at barring imports of illegally-caught fish. But inadequate enforcement and an outdated import document scheme risk undermining its impact, writes Victoria Mundy.
As the COP22 Climate Conference gets into full flow in Marrakesh, Commissioner Karmenu Vella warns that global rules for the oceans have to be dragged into the 21st century.
Contrary to popular myths, most plastic pollution at sea occurs on the seabed and on beaches, not on the surface. If we want to secure the health of our oceans, we need to start looking at preventing marine plastic litter at source, writes Chris Sherrington.
The European Commission must wholeheartedly commit to building a Circular Economy if it is to deliver the benefits for the environment, businesses and the economy that EU citizens expect, writes Simon Wilson.
