18 June 2026   Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Newsletter

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

Foreword

Dear readers, Greetings from Mombasa, Kenya, where I’m attending the 11th Our Ocean Conference 2026 alongside Commissioner Kadis. This year’s conference highlights the ocean’s vital role in shaping culture, communities and livelihoods – a theme that resonates deeply with our own work in Europe. And speaking of progress, this month marks a significant milestone: the first anniversary of the European Ocean Pact – a year of turning ambition into action. Just in June alone, we adopted two flagship initiatives under the Pact. Firstly, I am proud to announce OceanEye, our groundbreaking initiative to position the EU as a global leader in ocean observation. By 2035, we aim to contribute 35% of the world’s ocean observing capacity and secure 35% of the market for ocean technologies. Second, we have launched the EU’s first-ever strategies for islands and coastal communities, addressing the unique needs of 17 million islanders and 95 million coastal residents. These strategies will foster resilience, boost connectivity, and turn challenges into opportunities. Finally, we published our annual communication on the state of EU fisheries. While progress towards sustainability continues, challenges persist - especially in the Baltic Sea and western Mediterranean. You can share your views by 31 August, and don’t forget to contribute to the call for evidence on the EU fisheries multiannual plans by 23 June. Warm regards, Charlina Vitcheva, Director-General Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries @vitcheva_eu

News

EU commits over €338 million for global ocean protection at Our Ocean Conference in Kenya The European Union has committed €338.35 million to support ocean conservation, sustainable fisheries and maritime security at the Our Ocean Conference 2026. Costas Kadis, Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, announced the news at the event, taking place in Mombasa, Kenya.   more     Commission presents first-ever EU strategies for islands and coastal communities The European Commission has adopted two dedicated strategies, one for EU islands and one for EU coastal communities, setting out for the first time a coordinated European approach to support both types of territories and unlock their long-term potential.   more     Commission presents OceanEye initiative to put EU at the forefront of ocean observation The European Commission adopted OceanEye to expand the EU's role in ocean observation. The initiative aims to position the EU as the world's leading provider of ocean intelligence by contributing to 35% of the global ocean observing system by 2035 and securing 35% of the market for ocean observation technologies.   more     One year of the European Ocean Pact: leading global ocean protection and boosting the blue economy Today, the 5 June 2026, marks the first anniversary of the European Ocean Pact, the EU’s comprehensive strategy to protect marine ecosystems, foster a thriving blue economy and support the well-being of coastal communities.   more     EU fisheries: fishing sustainability improves, but challenges remain The Commission published its annual communication on the state of EU fisheries, taking stock of progress towards sustainable fishing and setting the course for the upcoming cycle of fishing opportunities for 2027.   more     Commission seeks feedback on fisheries multiannual plans The European Commission is seeking feedback on fisheries Multiannual Management Plans (MAPs) across the EU’s sea basins. The call for evidence is open for a four-week period on the Commission’s Have Your Say portal.   more     Commission seeks feedback to strengthen Europe's water resilience and ocean protection The European Commission has launched two calls for evidence to help shape the future Ocean and Water Research and Innovation Strategy (R&I), a flagship initiative under the EU Water Resilience Strategy and the European Ocean Pact.   more     Europe's bathing waters remain safe to swim From the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, the vast majority of bathing waters in Europe met the European Union's most stringent ‘excellent' bathing quality standards in 2025, according to the latest annual Bathing Water report published today.   more     The 2026 #EUBeachCleanup is on! On Saturday 23 May 2026, on the shore of Limassol, Cyprus, Commissioner Costas Kadis officially launched this year’s edition of the #EUBeachCleanup campaign.   more     EU exports of shark fins dropped in 2025 In 2025, the EU exported 2.7 thousand tonnes of shark fins to countries outside the EU, worth €44.8 million. Compared with 2024, the export volume decreased by 15.2% (from 3.1 thousand tonnes), and the export value dropped by 31.3% (from €65.3 million).   more     EU Maritime Spatial Planning Week: getting together for better planning at sea This week more than 290 policymakers, researchers, maritime experts and stakeholders gathered in Brussels for the second EU Maritime Spatial Planning Week. Through more than 15 sessions, the week provided a platform to exchange knowledge and strengthen cooperation across sea basins.   more     Your voice is missing: join the WGPP and help shape Europe’s bio-based future. Are you a fisher or an aquaculture producer? Join the Working Group on Primary Producers to bring bring producers’ realities directly into the development of practical, actionable solutions.   more

Stories of the month

How Malta is making sustainable seafood a consumer choice Seafood consumers often focus on a small number of well-known fish species, placing pressure on those stocks. In Malta, however, the authorities have decided to tackle this at a grassroots level: through the ‘Explore the Variety, Eat Sustainable Fish’ initiative, the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture is encouraging people to choose from a wider range of local species.   more     Seagrass power: how nature is healing a polluted lagoon In Portugal’s Ria de Aveiro lagoon, the once-thriving Largo do Laranjo was a vibrant underwater meadow carpeted in Zostera noltei seagrass. But decades of industrial pollution left mercury and arsenic into the waters, poisoning the sediments and wiping out the underwater greenery.   more     SIKE: bringing Sámi knowledge and voices into European policymaking As the European Union advances its green transition, climate ambitions and circular economy objectives, it is increasingly important that Indigenous people are able to contribute to policies that affect their lands, livelihoods and communities.   more     Mediterranean Algae: restoring ports and coastal waters with BlueInvest Mediterranean Algae, a Spanish company tackles nutrient pollution in ports and coastal waters. Its system uses algae to clean seawater. It also provides reliable real-time data on water quality. This helps ports meet EU requirements and reduce their environmental impact.   more

Map of the month

Drifting buoy tracks These free-floating instruments move with ocean currents and use sensors to measure conditions such as temperature, salinity and currents, and, in some cases, oxygen, turbidity or chlorophyll. The data are sent by satellite and contribute to marine forecasts and marine safety. Open access to this ocean information is possible through open marine data initiatives like EMODnet.   more

Events

Macro-regional & Sea Basin Strategies Days 2026 Date 08/07/2026 - 09/07/2026 Venue SQUARE, Mont des Arts, Brussels, Belgium Registration Deadline to register: 24 June   more

Have your say

Fisheries management rules revision – Omnibus Deadline 23/06/2026   more   European Ocean Act Deadline 16/07/2026   more   European ocean research and innovation strategy Deadline 02/08/2026   more   A water resilience research and innovation (R&I) strategy Deadline 02/08/2026   more   Birds and Habitats Directives – stress test Deadline 04/08/2026   more   Sustainable fishing in the EU: state of play and orientations for 2027 Deadline 31/08/2026   more

Funding opportunities

Call for proposals "Support to awareness raising about the Arctic communities, including Indigenous People" Deadline 20/08/2026   more   Services to Communities to support the achievement of the objectives of the Mission Ocean and Waters Deadline 14/07/2026   more   OCEAN OBSERVATION PLATFORM - Maintenance, operation and further development of a digital platform for hosting ocean observation campaign plans Deadline 24/07/2026   more   Information system on commercial designations for fishery and aquaculture products Deadline 14/09/2026   more

Publications and studies

Data collection and analysis supporting the evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy Regulation   more     Study on resilience and local economic development in EU coastal communities   more

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