Oceans need to be managed sustainably in order to conserve our fragile marine ecosystems.

Although oceans are essential to us in many ways, the state of marine biodiversity remains little known. What we do know, however, is that human activities create a number of pressures such as (over-)exploitation, carbon emissions, and pollution, including marine litter.

It is estimated that there are over 150 million tonnes of plastic in the world's seas and that, without significant action, there may be more plastic than fish (by weight) in the sea by 2050. Some marine litter consists of microplastics; these originate from the breaking down of larger plastic pieces or are released directly into the environment.

environmental protection (T)

reduction of the environmental impact of plastics (T)

protection of ocean (T)

Ocean protection

EP Plenary session - Establishment of Antarctic Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and the conservation of Southern Ocean biodiversity

Establishment of Antarctic Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and the conservation of Southern Ocean biodiversity: closing statements by Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, European Commissioner for Environment and Anže LOGAR, Slovenian Minister of Foreign Affairs

Establishment of Antarctic Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and the conservation of Southern Ocean biodiversity: MEPs debate

Establishment of Antarctic Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and the conservation of Southern Ocean biodiversity: opening statements by Anže LOGAR, Slovenian Minister of Foreign Affairs and by Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, European Commissioner for Environment

Impact on fisheries marine litter: statement by Catherine CHABAUD (Renew, FR), Rapporteur, extracts from the debate and the vote

Impact on fisheries of marine litter: report by Catherine CHABAUD (Renew, FR), and statement by Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, European Commissioner for Environment

EP Plenary session - Impact on fisheries of marine litter

EP Plenary session  - Protecting our oceans: persistent threats to marine protected areas in the EU and benefits for coastal communities

EP Plenary session - Voting session (part 2) incl. European Health data space and violence against women

EP Plenary session -  EU Action Plan: protecting and restoring marine ecosystems for sustainable and resilient fisheries

EP Plenary session - Commission statement - Recent ecological catastrophe involving plastic pellet losses and its impact on micro plastic pollution in the maritime and coastal habitats

6 facts about packaging waste

EPRS podcast - Policy: EU action on ocean governance and achieving SDG 14

EPRS - Climate and socio-economic tipping points

Future of fisheries in the Channel, North Sea, Irish Sea and Atlantic Ocean: closing statements by Manuel PIZARRO (S&D, PT), rapporteur and by Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, European Commissioner for Environment

Future of fisheries in the Channel, North Sea, Irish Sea and Atlantic Ocean: MEPs debate

Future of fisheries in the Channel, North Sea, Irish Sea and Atlantic Ocean: opening statements by Manuel PIZARRO (S&D, PT), rapporteur and by Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, European Commissioner for Environment

EPRS - Phasing out harmful fishery subsidies

Infoclip: Biodiversity in Europe – Marine biodiversity

Infoclip: Single use plastics

Infoclip: Plastics

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