Marine Protected Areas in the EU: ensuring legal compliance and effective enforcement

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the European Union are established under EU laws including the Habitats Directive, to conserve rare, threatened, or endemic animal and plant species, along with their natural habitats. Thriving marine ecosystems within MPAs can better withstand the impacts of climate change, mitigate its effects, and support the regeneration of fish populations, … Read more

New Analysis Exposes Destruction in France’s Most Iconic Marine Protected Areas as Nation Prepares to Host 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference

Oceana uncovers over 17,000 hours of destructive fishing inside France’s Marine Nature Parks, Calls on President Macron to ban bottom trawling in protected areas Nice, France. Just before France is set to welcome world leaders to Nice for the third United Nations Ocean Conference, Oceana released a new analysis revealing destructive fishing in the country’s … Read more

How are Natura 2000s sites designated? 

Natura 2000 is the European Union’s network of protected areas, created to safeguard valuable and threatened species and habitats across Europe. These sites are vital for preserving biodiversity, but how are Natura 2000 sites designated, especially when it comes to marine and coastal areas?  The process is guided by science, national responsibility, and EU-level collaboration. … Read more

Oceana’s work: Exploring and protecting El Hierro

El Hierro, the southernmost, westernmost, and youngest island of the Canary Islands (Spain), is a volcanic wonder rising from the depths of the Atlantic Ocean. While 90% of its structure lies submerged, its waters are teeming with extraordinary marine biodiversity. Oceana has long recognized the ecological importance of these well conserved ecosystems, conducting research to … Read more

As EU ocean days conclude, civil society, fishers, and the scientific community call on Commissioner Kadis to affirm that bottom trawling has no place in marine protected areas

Monday, March 10th–Following the conclusion of EU Ocean Days, leading ocean advocates — BLOOM, Blue Marine Foundation, Défense des Milieux Aquatiques, National Geographic Pristine Seas, Oceana, Only One, and Seas At Risk — in collaboration with fishers and scientists, are urging Commissioner Kadis to support a ban on destructive fishing practices such as bottom trawling … Read more