The European Commission proposed a raft of initiatives on Thursday 10 November to improve international governance of the oceans, promote better management of fishing, improve maritime safety, ensure the security of the seas and mitigate the impact of climate change on the seas and ecosystems.
The communication, “International ocean governance: an agenda for the future of our oceans”, drafted by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Commissioner Karmenu Vella values the global ocean economy at an estimated €1.3 trillion, a figure that could more than double by 2030.
The communication says that the current framework is incomplete and needs to be further developed. Significant legal gaps exist, for example, on the preservation and sustainable exploitation of marine biodiversity in zones beyond national jurisdiction. The International Seabed Authority (ISA) has yet to finalise the rules on seabed mining activities. In addition, the communication states: “We are a long way from achieving global objectives such as achieving Maximum Sustainable Yield for fisheries by 2015, or conserving 10 % of coastal and marine areas, in particular through marine protected areas (MPAs) by 2020”. It contains 50 “actions” (set out in 14 chapters) in three major priority areas.
International governance. A mong the actions set out are: - production (by 2018) by the Commission of guidance on the exploration and exploitation of natural resources on the seabed in areas under national jurisdiction; - better enforcement of existing rules governing the oceans, for example, to achieve the international sustainable development goals such as creating the 10% target for marine protected areas by 2020; - improved collaboration with partner countries to reduce maritime security threats and risks, such as piracy, trafficking in human beings, arms and narcotics, while taking full advantage of the capacity of the new European Border and Coastguard Agency, the EU Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA); - continuing operations to tackle piracy and dismantle migrant trafficking networks.
Reducing human pressure on the oceans. The Paris Climate Agreement has now come into force. The Commission will work to strengthen ocean-related action to implement national and international commitments. Vella will deliver this message at Oceans Day at COP22 in Marrakesh on 12 November 2016 (see other articles). The Commission will pursue action to combat illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing, strengthening the role of Interpol and launching a pilot project to monitor illegal fishing worldwide using satellite communications. Marine waste in another considerable threat to the oceans. Under the Circular Economy Action Plan, the EU will, by 2017, propose a strategy on plastics, which will contribute to reducing marine litter by at least 30% by 2020.
The Commission will work towards international guidelines on maritime spatial planning by 2025 and help expand marine protected areas worldwide with funding under Horizon 2020 and LIFE programmes.
Research. Some 90% of the oceans’ seabed remains unchartered. The EU’s Blue Data Network – the European marine observation and data network – provides data from over 100 marine research bodies and is accessible to all. The Commission will propose how to develop this database into a worldwide marine data network.
“Oceans cover 70% of the surface of the planet but we use them for only 3% of our economic activity”, said Vella at a press conference. The communication is a call for international cooperation to protect our oceans and develop the potential of the blue economy, he added. He highlighted growth sectors such as energy produced by the oceans, biotechnologies and coastal tourism. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)