The Ocean Pact Is Here. Will It Save the Sea or Stall for Time?

A jargon-free breakdown of the EU’s bold new ocean plan.

I’ve been watching EU ocean policy evolve for years, because it directly shapes the future of the species and ecosystems I’ve spent my career trying to protect. I’ve seen how decisions made in Brussels ripple out across our seas, affecting everything from how fisheries operate to how marine habitats are restored, or neglected.

Some policies have led to real progress. The EU ban on driftnets in the 2000s significantly reduced dolphin bycatch in European waters. The Marine Strategy Framework Directive gave Member States a shared goal of achieving "Good Environmental Status" in their seas. More recently, the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 committed to protecting 30 percent of Europe’s seas and restoring degraded ecosystems. These are meaningful steps forward.

Other policies have stalled or failed. The Common Fisheries Policy, despite multiple reforms, still permits overfishing in several EU waters. Marine Protected Areas exist on paper, but many remain open to bottom trawling and industrial extraction. Even the widely supported Nature Restoration Law has faced political pushback, softening its scope and slowing its rollout.

Yesterday, the European Commission announced the European Ocean Pact, its most ambitious attempt yet to bring everything together under one plan. The language is bold. The timing is strategic… but what does it actually do, and more importantly, what does it leave out?

This is my jargon-free breakdown, written to help everyone understand what is happening, why it matters, and what is still missing.

Why the Ocean Pact exists

The ocean is the planet’s life support system. It absorbs carbon, regulates climate, produces oxygen, and feeds billions. In Europe, the ocean is also a major economic engine. The EU has the largest collective maritime area in the world. Over 40 percent of EU citizens live within 50 kilometres of the coast.

Despite its importance, Europe’s seas are under pressure. Overfishing, plastic pollution, illegal activity, habitat loss and weak enforcement continue to degrade marine ecosystems. Previous laws have often failed to stop this damage.

The Ocean Pact was created to address these problems with a single, coordinated strategy. It outlines six key priorities intended to bring structure and urgency to future action.

The six priorities of the Ocean Pact

1. Restoring ocean health and productivity

The Pact proposes support for countries to restore degraded coastal habitats. It calls for better protection of marine ecosystems through improved spatial planning and stronger management of Marine Protected Areas. It also includes plans to create blue carbon reserves, which store carbon in marine vegetation such as seagrass and saltmarshes.

2. Boosting competitiveness in the sustainable blue economy

This section aims to modernise industries that rely on the ocean, including fishing, aquaculture, tourism, shipping and energy. The EU plans to review the Common Fisheries Policy, publish a Vision 2040 for fisheries and aquaculture, introduce a new EU Ports Strategy and support young professionals entering marine sectors through a Blue Generational Renewal Strategy.

3. Supporting coastal, island and outermost communities

The Pact proposes new strategies to help coastal and island communities adapt to environmental and economic changes. These include a dedicated strategy for resilience, consultation on an updated Islands Strategy and a refreshed plan for outermost EU regions.

4. Advancing ocean research, knowledge, and innovation

This pillar focuses on science and data. It includes an EU Ocean Observation Initiative, the development of a real-time Digital Twin of the Ocean and a new Ocean Youth and Intergenerational Ambassador Network to promote ocean literacy and public awareness.

5. Enhancing maritime security and resilience

The Pact outlines plans to remove unexploded bombs from European waters, improve cooperation with Arctic and Mediterranean countries and launch a pilot programme for a European drone surveillance fleet. These measures respond to increasing threats to undersea cables, infrastructure and marine borders.

6. Strengthening EU ocean diplomacy and global governance

The EU will expand its leadership in international ocean policy. Plans include fully digitalising its illegal fishing certification system by 2026, contributing €40 million to ocean protection in developing countries, pushing for new Marine Protected Areas in the Southern Ocean and supporting international agreements on plastic pollution and harmful fishing subsidies.

Where the gaps remain

The Ocean Pact has been welcomed as a necessary step, but it also leaves several major issues unresolved.

It does not ban destructive fishing in protected areas

Bottom trawling and other damaging practices are still allowed inside many of Europe’s Marine Protected Areas. The Ocean Pact encourages better management of MPAs but stops short of banning destructive fishing outright. This means some of the most harmful activities can continue in places that are supposed to offer protection. However, as I reported previously, the legal landscape is shifting. On 21 May 2025, the EU General Court confirmed that Member States already have the legal power to ban bottom trawling in MPAs.

It includes no binding targets for pollution or restoration

The Pact references existing laws, but it does not introduce new legal limits for plastic, chemical, or nutrient pollution. It also lacks specific targets or deadlines for ecosystem restoration. Progress will depend on voluntary cooperation rather than enforceable commitments.

It provides no clear financial commitments

There are no dedicated budget lines for community support, law enforcement, or habitat restoration. While the Pact mentions existing EU funds, such as Horizon Europe and the EMFAF, it does not explain how those funds will be allocated. This leaves key priorities unfunded.

It proposes future reviews instead of immediate action

The Pact plans to review major policies such as the Common Fisheries Policy, but it does not introduce urgent measures to fix problems already identified. Overfishing, habitat loss and weak enforcement are well-documented. The Pact delays action on these critical issues.

What happens next

The European Commission will follow the Pact with a new Ocean Act by 2027. This Act is expected to provide the legal framework needed to implement the Pact’s priorities. It will also introduce a public dashboard to track progress and form a high-level Ocean Board to oversee delivery.

The effectiveness of these tools will depend on political will, funding, and follow-through from Member States.

So, will it work?

The Ocean Pact is a strong signal that the EU recognises the importance of marine ecosystems and the communities who depend on them. It offers a structure for better coordination and sets a clear agenda for the years ahead.

At the same time, the lack of binding measures, funding guarantees and immediate enforcement tools means its success is not guaranteed. Without stronger political action, it risks becoming just another framework that sounds impressive but fails to change reality at sea.

Why this matters to you

This is not just about Brussels or biodiversity. It is about food security, weather stability, clean energy and the survival of coastal economies. The health of the ocean affects all of us, whether we live near the sea or not.

The Ocean Pact is a test of whether our leaders are willing to act, not just talk, while there is still time to turn the tide.

We can all help by staying informed, speaking up and supporting policies that protect nature and communities.

The ocean cannot protect us unless we protect it in return.

---

📌 PS – Please consider restacking or sharing if this piece struck a chord, it helps raise the alarm and fuels this kind of independent ocean journalism that challenges, informs and (hopefully) makes a difference. Oh and if you haven’t already, I would love it if you subscribed, and you’ll receive my articles straight into your inbox, every couple of days!