The European Ocean Days is a week-long event with a series of dynamic and interconnected sessions relevant to maritime topics. Each day features distinct sessions focused on various key ocean-related themes, allowing participants to engage deeply with sustainable blue economy, considering fisheries science outcomes, showcasing Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters actions, blue investments, and dialogues with key stakeholders, including youth.
The European Ocean Days provides a unique platform to exchange of ideas across diverse blue communities, discuss about the challenges ahead, explore innovative solutions, and pave the way for concrete actions that address the interconnected ocean issues. This year, the Ocean Days are a key component of the preparation of the Ocean Pact, a reference framework for all EU ocean-related policies.
Join us for:
- The Young Voices for the Ocean on Monday 3rd of March 2025
- The Mission Restore Our Ocean and Waters Forum* on Tuesday 4th of March 2025 alongside with Mission-related events.
- The Ocean and Fisheries Dialogues* on Wednesday 5th of March 2025 (morning)
- BlueInvest Day on Wednesday 5th (afternoon) and Thursday 6th of March 2025
- Marine Knowledge for the Ocean Pact on Friday 7th of March (morning)
- Fisheries and Ocean Science Seminar on Friday 7th of March (afternoon)
What to expect:
A week of unity, dialogues, and forward-looking vision for our ocean.
Day 1 – Setting the stage with Young Voices for the Ocean
The European Ocean Days opens with an empowering and inspiring session that sets the tone for the week opening with an interactive dialogue between young ocean advocates and the Commissioner for Fisheries. Acknowledging that the future of our ocean lies significantly in the hands of the next generation, it is essential to hear and reflect on the perspectives of young people as part of the policy design process. Throughout the day, various panels will be organised with the aim to foster youth participation discussion as a way to ensure that the opinion, views and needs of young people and youth organisations are taken into account when defining the Ocean Pact.
Day 2 - Progress in Action: Mission Restore Our Ocean and Waters Forum*
With momentum established, Day 2 showcases the impact of Mission Ocean and Waters, which provides a large collaborative framework for stakeholders in the blue community to participate, build the future on the successful results of various projects, disseminate, replicate and create impact. The Forum will be a unique platform to showcase innovative and concrete solutions developed under the Mission, identify synergies, discuss how key stakeholders, are involved in implementing the Mission. Moreover, the forum will be an opportunity to explore how different streams of finance are being mobilised and to explore how the Mission can actively contribute to future EU priorities including the Ocean Pact.
Day 3 – Immersing in Ocean Dialogues
At the heart of Ocean Days lies the Ocean and Fisheries Dialogues*, which will bring together a diverse range of stakeholders from the fisheries, aquaculture, maritime and blue economy sectors. The event aims to foster collaborative discussions, share insights, and develop actionable strategies in preparation of the Ocean Pact. The dialogues will cover the three main objectives of the Ocean Pact, namely (1) pursuing a healthy and productive ocean by implementing relevant EU legislation and championing the EU’s international ocean governance agenda, (2) boosting a competitive, resilient, and sustainable EU blue economy, including fisheries, and (3) consolidate, simplify, and extend the EU’s marine knowledge framework. In the afternoon, BlueInvest Day (organised across two days) will showcase the best of innovation, investment, and sustainability in the Blue Economy. Participants would be able to follow targeted breakout sessions, such as sector specific workshops and a networking session.
Day 4 - Investing in a Blue Future
As the week progresses, Day 4 centers on the economic pillar of ocean sustainability. The spotlight of BlueInvest Day lies on both successful and high-potential investment initiatives, emphasising their impact on sustainability and their transformative potential. By providing a dynamic platform for existing and potential members of the BlueInvest Community to converge, it aims to catalyse investment and innovation initiatives within the Blue Economy, promoting sustainability and transformative impact across industries. Participants would be able to deep dive into the main conference with keynote speeches, panels, pitch session and high-level networking opportunities.
Day 5: Knowledge is Power
Preparation for the Ocean Pact demands a robust foundation of knowledge, and Day 5 focuses on this crucial need by gathering Europe’s marine data and observation as well as fisheries experts to discuss the latest advancements and challenges. The morning session Marine Knowledge for the Ocean Pact will be devoted to showcase the crucial role of and its value chain components (ocean observation, data, research, models and forecasting, assessments and scenario analysis, delivery of this outputs in different forms, including digital applications) as well as citizen science. In the afternoon, the Fisheries and Ocean Science Seminar provides a platform for dialogue on the current and future science challenges, as well as a networking opportunity for all stakeholders, who have an opportunity to reflect on the state of the scientific advice and research on fisheries, and the challenges ahead. This in turn feeds into DG MARE’s internal reflections to shape future policies or adjust current ones, of further relevance ahead of the next Commission mandate. Sessions on Day 5 will cover a range of important topics relevant for the political priorities of the new Commission and particularly the Ocean Pact.