From March 3 to 7, Mr. Goodfish3.0 participated in the 2025 European Ocean Days at the European Commission in Brussels. The event brought together key players from the maritime sector to discuss critical issues related to the oceans.
Toward a European Ocean Pact
The European Ocean Days consist of 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 took place at the European Commission in Brussels and brought together stakeholders involved in the European Union’s mission “Restoring Our Oceans and Waters.”
Each session explored urgent challenges and innovative solutions, fostering collaboration to shape future European maritime policies. In particular, the European Ocean Days played a key role in the development of a European Ocean Pact, a future framework for EU ocean policies, for which the European Commission recently launched a call for contributions.
Conclusions from this week
Throughout the week, we heard from high-level experts and stakeholders, including Costas Kadis (European Commissioner for Fisheries and the Ocean), Ekaterina Zaharieva (European Commissioner for Startups, Research, and Innovation), Christophe Clergeau (Member of the European Parliament, Chair of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on Seas, Rivers, Islands, and Coastal Areas), Olivier Poivre d’Arvor (Envoy of the President of the French Republic for the Third United Nations Ocean Conference), and many others.
The event opened with a session in which young ocean advocates engaged in dialogue with the European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans. Recognizing the importance of incorporating young people’s perspectives into maritime policy-making, this session highlighted the need for intergenerational collaboration to ensure a sustainable future for our seas.
One of the highlights was the third annual forum of the “Restore Our Oceans and Waters” Mission. This session provided an opportunity to assess the Mission’s progress, present innovative solutions, and discuss the next strategic steps toward achieving its 2030 goals regarding ecosystem and biodiversity restoration, zero pollution, decarbonization, and emissions reduction. Discussions also highlighted the importance of involving local authorities, regional stakeholders, and the private sector in implementing the Mission’s objectives—a point that strongly aligns with the Mr.Goodfish 3.0 approach. Financial mechanisms for scaling up and deploying solutions were also explored, positioning the Mission as a crucial contributor to future EU priorities, including the upcoming European Pact for the Ocean.
The Fisheries and Oceans Dialogues were another highlight of the week. This session brought together a diverse group of stakeholders from fisheries, aquaculture, marine renewable energy, and other sectors of the blue economy to collaborate on the design of the European Pact for the Oceans. The session facilitated fruitful exchanges, fostering the emergence of new ideas and concrete strategies to guide future ocean governance. Discussions notably highlighted the importance of ensuring greater cohesion among stakeholders, fishing industry actors, and researchers to improve stock assessment and the deployment of scientific research. Communication with consumers, consumer education, and awareness-raising were also central to the dialogue, underscoring the importance of market demands for the transition toward more responsible aquatic food production, including in aquaculture.
To conclude the week, Mr. Goodfish3.0 also participated in the Seminar on Fisheries and Ocean Sciences. This seminar served as a platform for reflection on the current and future challenges of fisheries science, offering valuable insights to scientists, policymakers, and industry professionals. Discussions focused on the latest scientific advice, research advances, and the evolving landscape of fisheries management. The discussion also turned to the vital role of science in supporting local fisheries and the need for it to remain accessible and understandable to those involved in the fishing industry. This resonates with Mr. Goodfish3.0, whose goal is to raise awareness about responsible consumption of seafood, freshwater, and aquaculture products. We firmly believe in the role of science in helping us achieve our goal, as we also know that effective scientific communication is essential to fulfilling our mission.
Heading to the United Nations Ocean Conference
The 2025 European Ocean Days served as a platform to build connections, exchange ideas, and help shape the future of the oceans. As we move forward, the lessons learned from this event will be crucial in guiding our work and strengthening our commitment to a sustainable blue economy. The next major milestone in this regard will be the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC), to be held in Nice, France, from June 9–13, 2025, during which the European Commission plans to launch the European Pact for the Oceans.
Drawing on the inspiration and guidance we’ve received throughout this week of events, we’ll continue our mission by ensuring everyone is fully engaged and by staying informed about upcoming developments at UNOC 2025.
The ocean is everyone’s business: good for you, good for the sea!
