Comments on the EU Commission open consultation “Call for evidence for an evaluation and an impact assessment run in parallel with the new Ocean Pact”

General comment

The primary objective of the Ocean Act should be to restore and maintain a good environmental status of the ocean; the short-term goal should be improvement, while avoiding further (especially irreversible) damage. When developing a new Ocean Act, the issue of goal conflicts must be addressed. Long term environmental sustainability is a prerequisite for any other activities, as a healthy and productive marine ecosystem is the base for human activity.

The Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre (BSC) would initially like to underline that the current lack of implementation and enforcement of existing legislation is a major problem and must be dealt with. Several problems highlighted in this open consultation would have been solved with speedy and proper implementation and enforcement.

Comment on the policy measure “require harmonised maritime spatial planning that is aligned with the Marine Strategy Framework Directive; draw up more integrated sea-basin management plans that include existing EU ocean related binding targets”.

BSC supports this measure and would like to stress the importance of more harmonized Marine Spatial Planning, MSP, that more strongly supports the fulfilment of the requirements in the MSFD, the Species and Habitat Directive, the Birds Directive and the European Biodiversity Strategy. A more strongly coordinating and legally binding form of marine spatial planning, in combination with other effective area-based conservation measures could be used to fulfil the 30% protection by 2030-target. Spatial planning can also be used to in a more coordinated way point govern fisheries spatially than is currently the case (e.g. in Ref. Ares(2026)1358528 - 06/02/2026 2(3) MPAs and territorial waters), reversing current practices where destructive fishing gear is essentially allowed everywhere except where it is forbidden.

Comment on the policy measure “introduce climate-smart maritime spatial planning by referencing all ocean-related targets, clarifying Maritime Spatial Planning Directive concepts and aligning with the Marine Strategy Framework Directive” as well as the measure to “address new climate-related uses and impacts of climate change and changes in sea use”

Considering that global warming is already affecting or oceans, with raising water temperature and sea level, increasing nutrient runoff and the disappearance of sensitive species - mitigating climate change and increasing the resilience of marine ecosystems is of vital importance for future sustainable use of our oceans. MSP can support the reduction of pressures from fishing and physical disturbances. Marine spatial planning in a more binding form could be used to coordinate and strengthen the protection and restoration of those marine areas that are particularly effective at sequestering carbon.

Comment on the policy measure “create a legal basis for governing and coordinating the European Ocean Observation System through a formal Commission-Member State forum, enabling integrated decisions and stakeholder involvement (including the Regional Sea Conventions)”

The BSC want to stress that although coordination of observations systems may be important, it must not lead to the obstruction of long term national marine monitoring programs. The importance of these programs cannot be overestimated for the understanding of our marine ecosystems and for following up on the measures implemented to restore them. Resources must be put into both increasing the efficiency of present monitoring systems and developing of new techniques and of sharing and harmonising of data, and supporting the production of higher resolution spatial data to support marine spatial planning type activities.

Comment on the policy measure “integrate all ocean-related spatial targets to address the Triple Planetary Crisis and strengthen maritime spatial planning to tackle climate, biodiversity and pollution challenges”

The BSC supports this measure and would like to stress that marine pollution, including sound pollution, can and should be addresses and coordinated across countries, also through spatial measures. The location of shipping lanes and regulation of velocity and technical measures onboard of vessels would need 3(3) stronger coordination across sectors, levels and national boundaries, including the IMO processes.

Read the comments at European Commission's website