With a new European Commission formed, comes new plans and ambitions. Some hopeful news for marine conservation is the announcement of a new EU Ocean Pact. This pact will not have legal standing, however, Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, has said that this doesn’t mean new legislation cannot be formed around the pact and to make sure it is enforceable.
The goals of the pact include achieving a healthy, resilient and productive ocean as well as coastal communities and to ensure there is a sustainable and competitive blue economy. The pact also seeks to improve innovation in marine research as well as increase knowledge and investment. While achieving a thriving blue economy is important, we must ensure that the conservation of marine biodiversity is at the forefront of plans for EU seas and that these plans are built around ecological limits.
Without ensuring a’ healthy and productive ocean’, there is no possibility of achieving a ‘competitive, resilient and sustainable EU blue economy’.
Sustainability as opposed to economic growth should be the most important metric of success.
Stakeholder Engagement
We were glad to see that a ‘Call for Evidence’ was launched on the Ocean Pact asking for stakeholders, experts and citizens to share their views on what should be included. The importance of engaging with coastal communities, NGOs and conservation groups, the fishing industry and others at a national as well as EU wide level is paramount.We welcomed the ambition to adopt a holistic approach in the drafting of the pact.
Coherence across ocean-related policies
There are a huge number of policies and legislation which relate to aspects of the marine environment. This pact aims to bring coherence across these EU policies. Integrating these policies will assist the Commission in achieving its range of 2030 biodiversity, climate and renewable energy targets.
This includes the EU Biodiversity Strategy’s target of having 30% of EU seas protected with 10% strictly protected. 30% of degraded marine habitats must also have measures put in place to restore them, in line with the EU Nature Restoration Law.
Successful implementation of ambitious National Restoration Plans will have a significant influence on whether we achieve a healthy and productive ocean and whether the EU can promote their international ocean governance agenda. Streamlining policies such as the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the Marine Spatial Planning Directive is vital to ensure that future developments and human activities can occur alongside the recovery of nature.
The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is another important piece of legislation which can, if implemented effectively, ensure sustainable fisheries while protecting the marine environment and improving the longevity of the blue economy.
Full adherence to Article 17 of the CFP, which states that Member States shall use transparent and objective criteria of an environmental, social and economic nature when allocating fishing opportunities must be ensured.
This Article states that Member States should take into account the impact of fishing methods on the environment, the history of compliance of different vessels and provide incentives for vessels which use selective fishing gear or use techniques with reduced environmental impact such as reduced energy consumption or habitat damage.
Ensuring effective monitoring and compliance
A roadmap of actions which need to be undertaken should accompany the EU Ocean Pact which will help in the monitoring of actions of Member States and the overall success of the pact.
For the best results these actions need to be ‘SMART’ in that they must be,
Specific,
Measurable,
Achievable,
Realistic
Time bound.
This prevents loopholes being taken advantage of and weak ineffectual plans being drawn up, which wastes not only the Member States and Commissions time, but also delays the much needed action for the future health of the ocean and communities that rely on it.
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