Dozens of leading ocean conservation organizations penned an open letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis urging them, on behalf of the EU, to lead the world on deep-sea protection.
The letter praised the EU for launching the European Ocean Pact, an initiative aimed at ensuring the long-term health of the ocean and pledging to restore 20% of marine ecosystems by 2030. But they sought assurance that immediate action will be taken to restore and protect the deep sea and uphold the EU’s stewardship on the global stage.
“The EU’s Deep-Sea Access Regulation was a milestone achievement in aligning fisheries management with environmental sustainability, underlining the EU’s obligations to implement international commitments to protect marine biodiversity. Following on from the 2022 decision to protect 87 vulnerable deep-sea areas across EU waters, we call on you to implement this regulation by publishing a proposal for a second round of closures of vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs). We believe there are compelling legal and scientific grounds for the Commission to act on the 2024 advice from International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) without further delay.” The second round of closures calls for a further 124 polygons.
“The longer the EU waits to act, the more these VMEs are left at risk of irreversible harm,” the letter said.
They noted the decision last summer from the European Court of Justice upholding the right of the Commission to protect deep-sea areas. Evidence presented to counter this decision, the group said, had only strengthened their own position. After two years of socio-economic assessment, the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) found no conclusive evidence of widespread economic harm caused by the first set of closures, they said.
“Policy decisions must be guided by verifiable facts, not unsubstantiated rhetoric and pressure from vested interests. The EU must also acknowledge the powerful signal sent by the international community at the recent IUCN World Conservation Congress with the adoption of a recommendation which calls for the full implementation of UN General Assembly resolutions to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems, including seamounts.”
They noted the motion received strong backing from many EU member states. “At this stage, further delays cannot be justified. The continued use of delay tactics (legal appeals, references to gear studies rejected by STECF etc.) as an excuse to stall progress is simply unacceptable – especially when the existing ICES advice provides a robust and precautionary basis for action.”
The letter was signed by Sian Owen Executive Director, Deep Sea Conservation Coalition On behalf of the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, as well as; Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation; BICREF; Bloom; Blue Marine Foundation; Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation; Deepwave e.V.; Deutsche Stiftung Meeresschutz (DSM); Deutsche Unwelthilfe DUH; Ecologistas en Acción; Environmental Justice Foundation; Europe Jacques Delors; Fair Oceans; GEOTA; Global Ocean Trust; Greenpeace; IFAW; KYMA sea conservation & research; Marine Conservation Society; M.E.E.R. e.V.; Oceana; OceanCare; Oceano Azul Foundation; Pro Wildlife e. V.; Sciaena; Seas At Risk; Sharkproject International; Stichting de Noordzee; Stop Finning EU; Submon; The Pew Charitable Trusts; Whale and Dolphin Conservation; ZERO; The Stichting Deep Sea Conservation Coalition.
