The European Union today announced a commitment of €338.35 million to support ocean conservation, sustainable fishing and maritime security, as part of the « Our Ocean » 2026 conference.
The European Union today announced a commitment of €338.35 million for ocean conservation, sustainable fisheries, and maritime safety at the Our Ocean 2026 conference . Costas Kadis , Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, presented the announcement at the event, which is taking place today and tomorrow in Mombasa, Kenya. The EU funding will contribute to a safe, clean, healthy, and sustainably managed ocean globally.
This year’s conference, themed « Our Ocean, Our Heritage, Our Future, » brings together representatives from governments, civil society, and industry from around the world to celebrate the heritage, cultures, and coastal communities shaped by the sea, while calling for a shared commitment to a resilient, equitable, and prosperous ocean for future generations. This theme is part of the strategy for coastal communities ., recently adopted by the European Commission, which aims to reconcile environmental protection with the economic and social sustainability of coastal regions.
EU funding is designed to strengthen global ocean sustainability and maritime security through a range of targeted initiatives. These include strengthening the Global Ocean Observing System and improving evidence-based decision-making for marine policies through the Commission’s OceanEye initiative; enhancing maritime security by tackling piracy and shipping risks in the southern Red Sea, the Horn of Africa, and the Gulf of Aden; and developing a sustainable blue economy in Africa through partnerships between investors and entrepreneurs and scaling up high-impact projects under BlueInvest Africa.
Additional EU-funded measures will aim to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing; support the implementation of the UN Ocean Conference Political Declaration; and promote the sustainable management of coastal and marine resources. The EU will also fund actions to combat marine pollution—reducing plastics, chemicals, and excessive nutrient inputs—as well as the restoration of vulnerable ecosystems. Furthermore, it will contribute to expanding marine protected areas, deepening scientific knowledge of deep-sea biodiversity, and strengthening global conservation goals.
Costas Kadis , Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, said: “At today’s Our Ocean 2026 conference, the EU is committing over €338 million to protect our ocean. We are championing international cooperation and strategic investments to protect marine ecosystems from climate change, pollution, and security risks; to enhance our understanding through observation and research; and to promote sustainable fisheries and resilient coastal communities worldwide.”
Context
The ocean covers 70.8% of the Earth’s surface and plays a vital role in regulating the climate, supporting biodiversity, and sustaining human populations. However, it is subject to intense pressures from climate change, overfishing, and habitat destruction.
The European Union has consistently made ocean protection a priority through policies such as the European Ocean Pact.and international cooperation. The Our Ocean conference brings together governments, civil society, and industry to find common solutions and present ambitious commitments to protect the ocean. To date, this platform has mobilized more than 2,900 commitments representing approximately $169 billion to address marine challenges.
source : Représentation en France
