Our Ocean Conference in Greece: EU announces €3.5 billion worth of commitments to protect the ocean and promote sustainability

Launched in 2014 and hosted each year by a different government, the Our Ocean conference is an international initiative to promote global ocean governance and action for marine conservation and sustainable development.

Last month, at the Our Ocean conference in Greece, the European Union confirmed its strong commitment to international ocean governance by announcing 40 commitments for action for 2024. These actions will be financed by €3.5 billion from various EU funds. They represent the largest amount ever announced by the EU since the beginning of the Our Ocean conferences.

At the conference, the EU pledged to take action on a range of issues: sustainable fisheries, marine protected areas, oceans and climate change, sustainable blue economies, marine pollution, maritime safety, support to the Mediterranean and research

 

Sustainable fisheries:       

• up to €1.9 billion under the Recovery and Resilience Facility to support sustainable fisheries
• €23.5 million during the period 2024-2025 to support Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs), Regional Fisheries Bodies (RFBs) and relevant International Agreements in the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic and Antarctic Oceans and the Mediterranean and Black Seas.
• €1.5 million to support the implementation of the Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA) to fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

 

Marine protected areas:

• €1.36 million to support the implementation of the Marine Biodiversity of areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement
• €24 million to protect marine biodiversity and preserve marine ecosystems in the Blue Benguela Current (Southern Africa), Maldives, Suriname and the French Southern and Antarctic Lands

 

Ocean and climate change:

• €103 million for ocean observation programmes and research to advance ocean models for climate predictions.

 

Sustainable blue economies:

• up to €130 million under the Recovery and Resilience Facility.
• €134 million to help African countries develop their blue economy in a sustainable manner.

 

Marine pollution:

• up to €980 million under the Recovery and Resilience Facility.

 

Maritime security:

• €45 million to enhance maritime security and safety in the Western Indian Ocean and Gulf of Guinea regions in Africa.

 

Support to the Mediterranean:

• The EU and Sweden commit €7.5 million for the Blue Mediterranean Partnership to support the sustainable development of a blue economy in the Mediterranean region.
• €2 million for the project supporting the Southern Mediterranean Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention in implementing the ecosystem approach to achieve Good Environmental Status (EcAp MED PLUS), from 2024 until 2027.

 

Research:

Through the EU Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters, €92.3 million are committed to restore our blue planet and ensure a sustainable blue economy.