Oceana welcomes Spain’s inclusion of strict protection for 10% of its seas in the EU Marine Strategies  

Press Release Date: October 28, 2025

Location: Madrid

Contact:

Irene Campmany | email: icampmany@oceana.org | tel.: +34 682 622 245

Full text (in Spanish) of the Marine Strategies presented by the Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge 

“It is good news that Spain has included a commitment to strictly protect 10% of its waters by 2030 in its plan to comply with the European Union’s Marine Strategies. This is the first time that the country has officially and bindingly adhered to this objective, which is a major step forward for marine ecosystems. Strict protection consists of shielding marine areas of high ecological value from extractive activities, such as fishing or mining, and is the best tool for regenerating habitats and recovering vulnerable species. With this announcement, Spain is demonstrating its ambition and commitment in line with the EU’s Biodiversity Strategy and Marine Action Plan. We are hopeful that the country will draw up an ambitious roadmap to reach 10% strict protection, which will be beneficial for the ocean, coastal communities and the fishing sector,” said Michael Sealey, Oceana’s policy advisor in Europe. 

For more information on strict protection, please see the following proposals from Oceana: