A Roadmap for Europe’s Ocean and the Urgency for Ireland to Act Now
Members of the Fair Seas team attended the recent launch of the Blue Manifesto during EU Ocean Week in Brussels, and the message was clear: we are at a critical juncture for the health of the ocean. The manifesto, supported by +140 NGOs and sustainable businesses, provides a bold roadmap to restore Europe’s seas by 2030. It highlights the need for urgent, coordinated action to reverse marine degradation, protect biodiversity, and tackle the existential threat of climate change.
One of the most alarming revelations brought up again and again at EU Ocean Week was how scientists have found the planet is close to breaching a seventh planetary boundary: ocean acidification. This dangerous threshold, caused by increased carbon dioxide levels, reduces the ocean’s ability to absorb carbon effectively, worsening climate impacts and threatening marine life. The consequences of inaction are stark, but the Blue Manifesto offers hope: if countries like Ireland take decisive action now, we can help create a buffer for Europe’s seas and play a significant role in combating biodiversity loss on a global scale.
It was however encouraging to see a spotlight placed upon small scale fishing operators including Muireann Kavanagh of the Irish Islands Marine Resource Organisation and her father Neily. Muireann spoke on a panel at the Rethink Fisheries event which called for fairer policies for small scale fishing communities.
Photos displayed at EU Ocean Week in conjunction with small scale EU fishing operators (Muireann and Neily Kavanagh) by Ocean Europe.
“The Blue Manifesto is a blueprint for saving the ocean and securing a healthy future for our planet. Now we need the EU Commission to properly enforce the policies and pathways outlined in this rescue plan, as well as implement existing laws. EU Ocean week has brought together politicians and decision makers across the political spectrum, and the Blue Manifesto is backed by 140 organisations, suggesting the huge public appetite for a Sea Change.” – Rosalind Skillen, Marine Policy and Advocacy Officer, BirdWatch Ireland
Key Points of the Blue Manifesto
The Blue Manifesto lays out a three-point plan for restoring Europe’s ocean by 2030. Its vision for a healthy, thriving marine environment is both pragmatic and ambitious, calling for stronger policies, better enforcement, and sustainable economic practices.
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Adopt an EU Ocean Deal
At the heart of the Blue Manifesto is the proposal for an EU Ocean Deal, designed to ensure that all policies affecting the ocean are coherent and mutually reinforcing. This overarching framework would integrate both existing and new legislation to ensure that marine biodiversity is not only protected but actively restored. This approach would include enhanced enforcement of environmental rules, increased transparency in ocean-related activities, and more robust access to justice provisions for environmental protection.
With the EU’s enormous maritime territory, this deal would provide a much-needed comprehensive strategy to prevent further degradation of marine ecosystems, aligning efforts across all member states.
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Establish an EU Ocean Fund
To translate ambition into tangible action, the Blue Manifesto calls for the creation of an EU Ocean Fund, dedicated to the long-term restoration of marine environments and the transition to a low-impact, sustainable blue economy. Crucially, this fund would be used to eliminate environmentally harmful subsidies, which continue to fuel destructive activities like overfishing and bottom trawling. Redirecting these resources toward the restoration of marine ecosystems and sustainable economic practices will help rebuild the resilience of Europe’s seas.
The Blue Manifesto suggests that by 2027, taxpayers’ money should no longer support harmful subsidies and should instead be invested in programs that promote marine conservation and sustainable use of ocean resources. A revised EU budget in 2027 will provide a critical opportunity to prioritise these objectives.
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Put the Ocean at the Heart of EU Decision-Making
The third point of the manifesto emphasises the need to place the ocean at the centre of EU policy making. This would require greater coherence between policies that impact the ocean, such as those related to fisheries, transport, and energy. The manifesto suggests appointing an Ocean Commissioner within the European Commission to ensure these policies are well-coordinated and that environmental goals are not sacrificed for short-term economic gains.
In addition to creating a leadership position, the manifesto advocates for joint sessions between European Parliament committees overseeing ocean-related issues, ensuring a unified and informed approach to ocean governance. While Earlier this year President of the European Commission Ursula Von Der Leyen committed to an EU Ocean Pact.
“Ursula Von Der Leyen announced her commitment to an Ocean Pact in her political guidelines to the EU Parliament in July. This pact needs to have concrete measures to hit obligations made by the EU on a number of issues including climate neutrality, protection of marine life and nature restoration. Boosting the blue economy was mentioned as a priority for the ocean pact and in order to do this, current sustainability issues must be addressed. The Blue Manifesto gives a timeline of strategic, science-based measures to achieve a healthy ocean as well as social and economic resilience. It is vital that the actions contained in the Blue Manifesto are taken into account when drafting an ambitious Ocean Pact at EU level as well as any new measures to be taken at a national level.” – Grace Carr, Marine Advocacy Officer, Irish Wildlife Trust.
Ireland’s Role: Why Action is More Urgent Than Ever
The facts presented at EU Ocean Week were shocking: the rapid acidification of the ocean is a direct consequence of human-induced carbon emissions, and we are dangerously close to a tipping point. Ocean acidification not only harms marine life, especially species like shellfish and coral, but also limits the ocean’s ability to act as a carbon sink. This is a vital service the ocean provides, absorbing about 30% of the carbon dioxide we emit. Without this buffer, the impacts of climate change will worsen, threatening both marine ecosystems and human societies.
However, there is hope. The Blue Manifesto’s roadmap offers a clear path to recovery at an international level. However, countries like Ireland also need to step up and take immediate, bold action on a national level to protect their marine territories. Ireland’s waters represent a significant portion of Europe’s maritime area, and protecting these ecosystems will be crucial in aligning with the Blue Manifesto’s goals.
The Responsibility to Protect: Ireland’s Marine Territory
Ireland has a unique opportunity to lead by example, especially as Ireland will hold the EU presidency in the second half of 2026. Ireland is already committed to designating 30% of its waters as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) by 2030, but this is only the beginning. Strict enforcement and effective management of these areas are necessary to ensure that they deliver the biodiversity benefits they promise. As the Blue Manifesto makes clear, protecting 30% of marine areas is only effective if these zones are genuinely safeguarded from harmful activities. Under these commitments made at an EU level, 10% of Ireland’s protected area network must fall under ‘strict protection’.
A Global Impact: Ireland’s Role in Reversing Biodiversity Loss
The urgency of the situation cannot be overstated. The planetary boundary of ocean acidification is one of the most pressing environmental threats we face, and we are fast approaching a point of no return.
Ireland’s marine territory plays a vital role in the broader European and global ecosystem. By prioritising marine protection Ireland can contribute to the restoration of marine life on a global scale. It is for this reason that Mission Blue recognised Ireland’s Southwest coast as the Greater Skellig Coast Hope Spot in 2023.
Conclusion: The Time for Action is Now
The Blue Manifesto is not just a plan; it’s a call to action. With the clock ticking toward 2030, the time to protect the ocean is now. The shocking revelations at EU Ocean Week only underscore the urgency of the situation—humanity is on the verge of crossing yet another planetary boundary, this time with devastating consequences.
Ireland has an incredible opportunity to be a leader in marine protection. By acting now, we can help build a healthy and resilient future for the ocean and coastal communities, not just in Ireland but across Europe and the world.
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