At the Our Ocean Conference, more than €6 billion was committed by public and private actors from 112 countries around the world, to better manage our oceans at the European Union-hosted conference which took place in Valletta.

Included in this was €550 million of EU-funded initiatives, which were announced by the European Commission, to tackle global oceans challenges.

The Conference was co-hosted by High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini and Karmenu Vella, Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.

It was also announced that the resources will be invested to strengthen the fight against marine pollution and enlarge protected areas, reinforce security of the oceans, foster blue economy initiatives and sustainable fisheries and intensify the EU efforts against climate change, in line with the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals under Agenda 2030.

The creation of new Marine Protected Areas was announced by participants, these will span more than 2.5 million km², or more than half the size of the entire European Union.

The 400 commitments (36 from the EU, over 200 from third country governments, more than 100 from business and several others from NGOs, foundations, research institutes and international organisations) are available online

“The European Commission has demonstrated with concrete pledges its strong commitment to the sustainability, security and prosperity of our oceans. If they are at risk, so are we, for the oceans nourish our planet and our people, and they connect us to our partners around the world,” First Vice-President Frans Timmermans said.

“The sea is a global common. It is Our Ocean because it belongs to humanity, to each and every human being. We all have a responsibility to preserve what’s common – to preserve it as a treasure and avoid that it turns into a threat,” said High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini.

He added, “the European Union believes that a globalised world needs a more cooperative global governance. We believe in the power of diplomacy, we invest in it, we believe and invest in the power of common rules and international institutions. And it is difficult, actually impossible, to imagine a global governance without a cooperative oceans’ governance.”

Commissioner Karmenu Vella said: “three years ago I was asked by President Juncker to define the EU’s global ocean role. I think together we have delivered.

“Our policies on land, like our commitment to the circular economy and reduced plastic waste; and at sea, on marine pollution, on protected areas, and on harnessing the ocean’s clean energy, clearly demonstrate this. The European Union is earning respect and inspiring action across the planet,” he added.

“The two days of the Conference have delivered on our Sustainable Development Goals ocean commitments. Small-scale fishermen around the world have a better chance of fishing safely, legally, and sustainably. Food chains are more secure. Coastal areas more protected. We are acting on the climate challenge. For many of our developing country partners, sustainable ocean governance is a question of survival. The road ahead is still long, but we are moving in the right direction,” Commissioner Neven Mimica said.

Commitments will be tracked and reported at the next Our Ocean Conference in Indonesia in 2018.

Photograph by Alain Salvary

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