September 3, 2025
Oceana’s work: Achieving sustainable ocean management
The ocean plays a vital role in regulating our climate, supporting biodiversity, and a source of food for millions around the world. Yet, this life-sustaining resource is under immense pressure from overfishing, habitat destruction, pollution, and inadequate management. If we are to secure a healthy ocean for future generations, we need stronger, science-based sustainable management, guided by transparency and fairness.
The State of Ocean Governance in the EU
Despite existing regulations like the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), many gaps remain, and thorough enforcement remains inconsistent. These weaknesses undermine conservation efforts and leave ecosystems vulnerable to exploitation.
The CFP aims to ensure that EU fishing activities, whether within or outside EU waters, follow the same principles but without proper oversight, these principles remain aspirational rather than enforceable.
Achieving transparency & traceability
One key issue is the lack of public information about which EU companies own or benefit from fishing operations, especially when using foreign flags or operating in waters outside the EU. This lack of accountability makes it difficult to assess who is truly responsible for overfishing or destructive practices.
Transparency in the seafood supply chain is essential for both sustainability and consumer confidence. Without adequate traceability systems, it is difficult to verify whether seafood is legally and sustainably sourced. Strengthening traceability especially for imported seafood is a crucial part of tackling illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Real protection for Marine Protected Areas
The EU has designated a vast network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), but many exist only on paper. Without proper management plans, enforcement, and funding, these “paper parks” fail to provide real protection for marine biodiversity. MPAs must be more than lines on a map; they must be effectively managed and monitored to make a meaningful impact.
The Need for Stronger Sanctions and Accountability
When rules are broken whether by companies operating illegally or by governments failing to enforce the law, sanctions must be applied swiftly and transparently. Accountability is key to building trust in ocean management and ensuring that the rules are followed.
A Blue Economy That Works for everyone
A truly sustainable blue economy must include fair fishing opportunities for artisanal and small-scale fishers, who often depend on healthy oceans for their livelihoods and food security. Sustainable ocean management means recognising their rights, ensuring equitable access to fishing opportunities and allocations, and safeguarding them from the impacts of overexploitation by industrial fleets. By prioritising artisanal fishers, that have minimal impact on the marine environment, we can create a system that supports climate friendly low-impact fishing.
A Way Forward: Science-Based, Inclusive, and Enforceable Governance
Achieving sustainable ocean management requires:
- Transparency about who owns and profits from ocean resources
- Effective enforcement of marine protections
- Equitable management that considers social and environmental justice
- Robust, science-based fisheries management plans
- Investment in seafood traceability and monitoring
- Real consequences for those who break the rules
The ocean is a shared resource and shared responsibility. Only through collective action and strong, transparent management, can we ensure its health for generations to come.
