From March 3rd to 7th, Mr.Goodfish3.0 had the privilege of attending the European Ocean Days 2025 at the European Commission in Brussels. This event brought together stakeholders from across the maritime sector to engage in discussions on critical ocean-related topics.
Towards a European Ocean Pact
The European Ocean Days are a series of sessions focused on the sustainable blue economy, fisheries science, ocean restoration initiatives, blue investments, and dialogues with key stakeholders, including youth representatives. The event was hosted at the European Commission in Brussels and gathered actors from across the European Union’s Mission “Restore our Ocean & Water”.
Each session provided a platform to explore pressing challenges and innovative solutions, fostering a collaborative environment to shape future ocean policies. This year’s event played a pivotal role in shaping the European Ocean Pact, a key reference framework for EU ocean-related policies for which the European Commission recently issued a call for evidence.
Key Insights from the week
Throughout the week, we heard contributions from experts and high-level stakeholders, including Costas Kadis (European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans), Ekaterina Zaharieva (European Commissioner for Startups, Research, and Innovation), Christophe Clergeau (Member of the European Parliament, Chair of the European Parliament Seas, Rivers, Islands, and Coastal AreasIntergroup), Olivier Poivre d’Arvor (Envoy of the French President for the Third UN Ocean Conference) and many more.
The event kicked off with an inspiring opening session, where young ocean advocates engaged in an interactive dialogue with the Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans. Recognizing the importance of including youth perspectives in shaping ocean policies, this session underscored the need for intergenerational collaboration to secure a sustainable future for our seas.
One of the key highlights was the third Annual Forum of the Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters.” This session assessed the progress of the Mission, showcased innovative solutions, and discussed the next strategic steps toward achieving its 2030 targets in restoring ecosystems and biodiversity, zero pollution, decarbonisation and emissions reductions. The discussions also emphasized the importance of engaging local authorities, regional actors, and the private sector in implementing the Mission’s objectives, a point that strongly resonates with the Mr.Goodfish3.0 approach. Financial mechanisms for scaling and deploying solutions were also explored, positioning the Mission as a crucial contributor to future EU priorities, including the upcoming European Ocean Pact.
Another focal point of the week was the Fisheries and Oceans Dialogues. This session gathered a diverse group of stakeholders from fisheries, aquaculture, marine renewable energy, and other blue economy sectors to collaborate on the design of the European Ocean Pact. The session facilitated meaningful exchanges, fostering new ideas and actionable strategies to guide future ocean governance. In particular, the discussions highlighted the importance of ensuring more cohesion among stakeholders, fishing industry actors and researchers for better assessment of stocks and deployment of scientific research. Communicating with consumers, educating them and raising awareness were also points at the heart of the dialogue, emphasising the importance the market demands will have on transitioning towards more responsible aquatic food production, including in aquaculture.
To conclude the week, Mr.Goodfish3.0 also participated in the Fisheries and Ocean Science Seminar. This seminar provided a platform for reflection on current and future challenges in fisheries science, offering valuable insights among scientists, policymakers, and industry professionals. Discussions centred on the latest scientific advice, research advancements, and the evolving landscape of fisheries management. The discussion centred on the vital role of science to support local fisheries and how it must remain accessible and understandable by the people involved in the field. This aligns with Mr.Goodfish3.0 objective, whose aim is to raise awareness for responsible consumption of the sea, freshwater and aquaculture products. We strongly believe in the role of science in helping us fulfil our purpose, but we also know the significance of effective scientific communication to our target.
Looking ahead towards the UN OceanConference
The European Ocean Days 2025 served as a powerful platform to connect, exchange ideas, and contribute to shaping the future of the oceans. As we move forward, the insights gained from this event will be instrumental in guiding our work and reinforcing our commitment to a sustainable blue economy. The next major milestone in this regard will be the UN Ocean Conference taking place in Nice, France, from 9th to 13th June 2025, and where the European Commission plans to launch the European Ocean Pact.
Strong of the inspiration and advice we got from this insightful week of events, we will pursue our mission while ensuring the best commitment from everyone and keeping ourselves informed of upcoming developments at UNOC 2025.
The Ocean is a matter of us all, and we must take care of it as part of our lives. Never forget our motto: Good for you, good for the sea!
