List of commitmenets to be presented by the European Union at the Our Ocean Conference (OOC) (Panama, 2-3 March 2023)

This document presents the list of 39 EU commitments for action for the year 2023, announced at the Our Ocean Conference (Panama, 2-3 March 2023)

The Farm to Fork Strategy (2020) details the way the EU will promote the transition to sustainable agri-food system at global level. It includes zero tolerance in the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and combat overfishing, the promotion of sustainable management of fish and seafood resources and, the strengthening of ocean governance, marine cooperation and coastal management. 

The EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 (2020) sets an ambitious global biodiversity agenda for the EU, including on marine biological diversity. The EU will apply zero tolerance towards illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and will combat overfishing, including through WTO negotiations on a global agreement to ban harmful fisheries subsidies. In all of its international cooperation, the EU should promote sustainable agricultural and fisheries practices.

These are in line with the EU Joint Communication on "International Ocean Governance: an Agenda for the Future of our Oceans"  (2016) and in particular its action 7 “Fighting illegal fishing and strengthening the sustainable management of ocean food resources globally”. The EU will work with international partners, provide support to the building up of the technical and administrative capacity to deal with illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing, promote inter-agencies cooperation and assess the negative social consequences of these practices.

In regards to EU development cooperation, interventions at global, regional and national levels follow the guidelines set in the Communication “ Fisheries and poverty reduction ” adopted in 2000. 

The New European Consensus on Development (2017) fosters sustainable agriculture, together with sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, with the ultimate goal of eradicating poverty, ending hunger and ensuring food security. The EU and its Member States will promote sustainable fisheries and aquaculture practices, and support action to tackle illegal fishing, marine pollution and climate change impacts.

The Communication “Towards a comprehensive Strategy with Africa” (2020) emphasizes as well the need for better ocean governance, including the development of a sustainable fisheries and blue economy. The strategy announces that the EU is ready to scale up the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing to address the environmental threat it poses to the sustainability of fish stocks, the profits of fishermen and coastal communities who follow the rules.

The new partnership agreement between the EU and ACP –“Samoa Agreement” foresees to promote sustainable marine and inland fisheries and aquaculture for job creation, income generation, the fight against poverty, and enhanced food security and improved nutrition.

The EU has adopted geographic and thematic programmes for the period 2021-2027 to ensure sustainable aquaculture and fisheries (including a zero-tolerance approach to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing).

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