Maritime Affairs and Fisheries,update

 

07 August 2025   Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Newsletter

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In this issue Foreword   News   OCEAN by Euronews   Stories of the month   Map of the month   Events   Have your say   Funding opportunities   Publications and studies

Foreword

Dear readers, The summer is officially here, and I am happy to share some positive developments with you. The EU and Iceland have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding to boost cooperation on fisheries and ocean affairs. This agreement promises advances in sustainable fisheries, marine conservation, and energy transition in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors. Meanwhile, the European Commission has set out an ambitious proposal for the EU’s long term budget for 2028-2034. This budget proposal opens up funding opportunities for fishers, aquaculture producers, and the maritime sector from the specific and horizontal instruments, aligning perfectly with the goals of the European Ocean Pact. Efforts to simplify our processes are also underway. The Commission’s proposal to streamline EU fisheries and aquaculture statistics will make data collection more efficient and reduce the workload on Member States. Don’t miss the latest OCEAN episode by Euronews which spotlights EU-funded projects championing sea-friendly tourism. These projects invite divers to discover underwater marine heritage or participate in sustainable whale-watching. As you prepare for the holidays, consider joining the #EUBeachCleanup campaign 2025. Check our website for guidelines and tips. We hope you find time to relax and perhaps even read this newsletter on the beach or after you return. Wishing you a joyful and restful break! Warm regards,  Charlina Vitcheva, Director-General  Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries @vitcheva_eu

News

Joint press release: EU and Iceland strengthen cooperation on sustainable fisheries and ocean affairs The European Union and Iceland have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation on fisheries and ocean affairs. The MoU establishes a framework for deeper and broader cooperation between the EU and Iceland on key priorities, including sustainable fisheries, scientific research and marine conservation.   more     EU budget 2028-2034 for a stronger Europe The Commission has presented its proposal for an ambitious and dynamic long-term EU budget, the so-called Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), which will run for seven years, starting in 2028.   more     Main outcomes of the implementation dialogue on maritime spatial planning The implementation dialogue on maritime spatial planning (MSP) took place on 1 July in Brussels. Hosted by Costas Kadis, Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, the event brought together a broad range of stakeholders—business and industry representatives, civil society organisations, and public   more     Commission proposes simplification on EU fisheries and aquaculture statistics The European Commission has proposed to simplify the collection and compilation of statistics on European fisheries and aquaculture.   more     EU seeks ambitious global agreement to tackle plastic pollution Negotiations will run until August 14, following a previous session last year that made significant progress but ultimately failed in concluding a deal.   more     Join us in the #EUBeachCleanup campaign 2025! The #EUBeachCleanup Campaign is a campaign organised by the European Union in partnership with the United Nations, and with the friendly collaboration of the Smurfs.   more     The Road to Green 19: Can we turn off the plastic tap? The latest episode of the Euronews series explores ways to fight plastic pollution at source, ahead of negotiations on a Global Plastics Treaty.   more

OCEAN by Euronews

Euronews OCEAN Season 7, Episode 7 - Sea-friendly tourism   Coastal tourism is evolving, with a growing focus on innovation and sustainability. As awareness of environmental impact increases, travellers are looking for experiences that respect nature and local culture. In this episode, we explore EU-supported projects offering new approaches to seaside   more

Stories of the month

Where waste becomes wonder: transforming fishing industry by-products into valuable resources Have you ever thought about what happens to waste from the fishing industry? With EU support, Estonian scientists have found a great answer: they transform it into wound dressings and leather-like fabrics!d   more     Nitrogen Sensing Solutions: innovating water quality monitoring with BlueInvest support Clean water is essential for aquatic ecosystems and the industries depending on them. Nitrogen Sensing Solutions (NS2), a pioneering Portuguese startup, has developed a portable system that measures nitrogen levels in real-time.   more     FISATUR - Revitalising Atlantic Coastal Communities through Sustainable Fishing Tourism Atlantic Network of tourist experiences to promote the fishing and maritime cultural heritage.   more

Map of the month

Fishing zones (FAO) Check out this month's map to see the international fishing zones set by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. There are 27 main fishing zones worldwide: 8 for inland waters on continents and 19 for the Ocean—covering the Atlantic, Indian, Pacific, and Southern regions—and nearby seas. Each zone, whether inland or marine, is named and assigned a two-digit code.   more

Events

Macro-regional & Sea Basin Strategies Days 2025 date 24/09/2025 - 25/09/2025   more   Blueinvest Africa 2025 date 15/10/2025 - 16/10/2025 Registration Registration   more

Have your say

Sustainable fishing in the EU: state of play and orientations for 2026 Deadline 31/08/2025   more   EU strategy for fisheries external action Deadline 15/09/2025   more

Funding opportunities

EU4Ocean Coalition for ocean literacy Deadline 29/08/2025   more   BlueInvest Platform Deadline 25/09/2025   more

Publications and studies

Study to assess regulatory barriers to ocean energies in EU Member States   more

This newsletter is published by the European Commission's Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. Visit our website: Oceans and Fisheries