One year after its adoption at the Third UN Ocean Conference in Nice, the European Ocean Pact is showing tangible progress in advancing ocean protection, governance and sustainable blue growth across Europe.

Since its launch on 5 June 2025, the Pact has helped drive key developments in international ocean governance, including the entry into force of the High Seas Treaty (BBNJ Agreement) in January 2026. The EU and its Member States played a leading role in the negotiations leading to the landmark agreement.

Over the past year, the governance structures underpinning the Pact have also been established, including a stakeholder-led Ocean Board and the testing of the European Ocean Pact Dashboard, which will monitor progress across the Pact's six strategic priorities.

The EU has continued to strengthen action against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing while advancing ocean observation through the recently adopted OceanEye initiative, which aims to position Europe as a global leader in ocean intelligence by 2035.

The Pact has also contributed to strengthening the sustainable blue economy through the evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy, alongside the adoption of the EU Ports Strategy and Industrial Maritime Strategy. Further support for coastal regions is expected with the upcoming EU strategies for islands and coastal communities.

Together, these milestones highlight the European Ocean Pact's growing role in placing ocean sustainability at the heart of Europe's environmental, economic and maritime policies.

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Picture Credit: Aerial view of huge humpback whale, Iceland, Europe. ©Lukas Gojda/stock.adobe.com