CCB's submission on the European Ocean Act

CCB • July 14, 2026

We support the Ocean Act objectives for improving coherence, coordination and effectiveness of EU ocean governance. However, we emphasize that the Act must deliver truly ecosystem-based management and that reaching Good Environmental Status (GES), as defined in the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), should be established as a cornerstone of the Act.

Uppsala, 14 July 2026 - The Ocean Act should ensure that all ocean-related policies are fully aligned with, and actively contribute to, the achievement of EU environmental objectives, making the protection and restoration of marine ecosystems a fundamental pillar of sustainable ocean governance.

Priorities for the Baltic Sea

We underline the importance of acknowledging and addressing regional challenges, particularly the severe effects of eutrophication caused by nutrient inputs from land-based sources, as well as hazardous substances in the Baltic Sea. Climate change must also be accounted for when managing the sea area and its resources, given that it is significantly affecting the Baltic Sea. Furthermore, the poor state of the ecosystem and Baltic Sea fish stocks must be tackled by treating fisheries and aquaculture as pressures in national and regional Maritime Spatial Plans (MSPs), and these activities must be planned for in a way that reduces their impact on the ecosystem and the species within it. Habitat degradation is a key challenge in the Baltic Sea, and the protection and restoration of marine habitats are essential for rebuilding ecosystem resilience, supporting biodiversity, and securing the long-term sustainability of fisheries and other blue economy sectors. Habitat degradation in the Baltic Sea is linked to multiple cumulative pressures rather than a single cause. In this regard, it is highly important to consider the cumulative impact of all the human-induced pressures on the marine ecosystem. This will necessitate strong cross-border and sea-basin coordination.

We recommend the following:

Ensure that the MSPD/Ocean Act fulfils the goals of the MSFD.
Include MPAs and restoration areas in the Ocean Act.
Ensure integration of an ecosystem-based approach into the MSP.
Include fisheries and aquaculture in national and regional MSPs to reduce their impact on habitats and species.
Align the Ocean Act with the goals and objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).
Strengthen land-sea interface requirements in the MSPD to prevent land-based activities from harming marine ecosystems.
Strengthen the role of the Regional Sea Conventions (RSCs) in implementing the Ocean Act and EU marine legislation.

The full text of the submission is available here.

***

Links to supplemental documents supporting our positions: