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Oceans and fisheries

International ocean governance framework

What is the EU’s role in this?

The Ocean requires a collective approach based on international law and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). 

The EU provides coordinated multilateral responses to global problems and upholds the rules-based international system

Through its political and diplomatic leverage, the EU upholds fundamental rights and promotes sustainable development in line with the UN’s 2030 agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Specifically, the EU

  • acts as a driving force in international negotiations, forums and processes for sustainable ocean governance
  • pursues partnerships and alliances by means of regional and bilateral dialogue, ocean-related development spending and (co)‑hosting global multi-stakeholder events
  • addresses the security and sustainability of the ocean in its maritime security strategy – such as organised crime, threats to freedom of navigation and environmental threats.

How does the EU aim to strengthen the framework?

EU has helped achieve the adoption of a legally binding international instrument on marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction

On deep seabed mining, the EU will continue to recommend a ban, until

  • scientific gaps are properly filled
  • there is clear proof that mining causes no harmful effects
  • the necessary rules are in place in the exploitation regulations to effectively protect the marine environment, as required under UNCLOS

On sustainable fishing practices, the EU

  • has adopted a zero tolerance approach to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, to support compliance with conservation and management rules
  • ensures countries abide by their international fisheries obligations, through dedicated IUU dialogues with non-EU countries, based on the IUU Regulation
  • continues to play a leading role in the WTO negotiations on removing harmful fishing subsidies, in line with SDG 14.6
  • contributes to governance in fishing activities at global level through sustainable fisheries partnership agreements
  • is a participant in regional fisheries management organisations and fisheries bodies worldwide. In doing so, the EU promotes the sustainability of fish stocks and transparent decision-making based on sound scientific advice, boosts scientific research and strengthens compliance.

The EU is a party to the Agreement to Prevent Unregulated High Seas Fisheries in the Central Arctic Ocean and is committed to its full implementation. 

Marine environmental protection is coordinated regionally through the EU’s participation in regional sea conventions, in particular through the strong links with its own implementation of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive. This ensures that EU countries and non-EU countries have an equivalent level of ambition in protecting ocean and seas.

The EU has close relations with several partners, such as the Partnership Agreement with the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States. It also has partnership and cooperation agreements and trade agreements with many global partners.