Clean and healthy oceans

Clean and healthy oceans are essential for life on Earth, but marine pollution threatens their well-being. 

Main pollution types are

• marine litter (plastic, wood, metal, etc.)
• eutrophication (nutrient pollution)
• contaminants (pesticides, heavy metals, toxins)
• underwater noise (oil drilling, shipping)
• ocean acidification (atmosphere CO₂ dissolving in ocean)

Marine pollution has no borders. Marine pollutants entering oceans in one country may travel long distances due to shifting winds, seasonal currents and migrating species. Therefore, coordinated EU-level actions and initiatives are of benefit to all EU countries bordering the European seas. The objectives are

• Preventing marine pollution from land-based sources, shipping, and other activities.
• Promoting sustainable fishing practices to protect marine biodiversity.
• Enhancing monitoring and enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
• Collaborating with international partners to address global marine pollution challenges.

The Fisheries Control Regulation includes rules to make it easier to report and recover lost fishing gear. Fishing vessels must carry equipment to retrieve lost gear and record information in their electronic logbooks. This information must be provided to the Commission or European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) when requested.

Action plan: Protecting and restoring marine ecosystems for sustainable and resilient fisheries

CleanSeaNet a European satellite-based oil spill and vessel detection service.

Regional cooperation with Regional Sea Conventions and work on global projects to reduce marine litter in areas like Southeast Asia, the Pacific, and South America.

Funding

European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) provides funding to develop solutions for restoring and maintaining ocean health, and tackling marine pollution.  

• EMFAF offers financial support to venture capital and impact funds through the InvestEU program, in collaboration with the European Investment Bank Group. This funding is used to invest in companies that provide innovative solutions in the blue economy sector, with a focus on reducing pollution and preserving the environment.  
• EMFAF compensates fishermen for bringing ashore lost fishing gear and waste caught in their nets during normal fishing operations instead of throwing them back into the sea. 
• EMFAF helps improve ports for receiving waste.

Data and research

• Mission on healthy oceans, seas, coastal and inland waters focuses on setting specific targets, demonstrating solutions, and engaging local communities.
• EMODNET and Atlas of the Seas give access to information on pollution in European seas and its sources following FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable  reusable) principles.

Decision laying down the format for reporting data and information on fishing gear placed on the market and waste fishing gear collected in Member States (2021)

Commission Implementing decision on standardisation as regards circular design of fishing gear (2019)

Directive on port reception facilities for the delivery of waste from ships (2019)

Reporting of waste caught in fishing nets - Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/92 as regards monitoring data methodologies and the format for reporting passively fished waste

Fisheries Control Regulation (2023)