Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing has been internationally branded as a major threat to oceans. Frequently depicted as having profound societal impacts and operational synergies with other forms of criminal activities, which justify the need for a so‐called global fight against...

The European Union (EU) Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 sets the target for protected areas in the EU at 30% of its sea area, one third of which needs to be strictly protected. While there is growing interest in studying the progress of ocean protection, there is a need for an overview of the...

In total, nine case studies in the Baltic Sea, North Sea, Atlantic EU Western Waters and some outermost regions (Madeira and Canary Islands) were selected to gather more information on the response of the fishing activities to MPA designation and implementation. The selection of case studies is...

The datasets gathered and the information extracted for this study provide for the first time a comprehensive picture of marine protected areas (MPAs) in the European Union (EU) countries of the Mediterranean and Black Sea, and of the fishing activities that take place within and around them....

The expansion of marine protected areas (MPAs) is a core focus of global conservation efforts, with the "30x30" initiative to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030 serving as a prominent example of this trend. This paper examines a series of proposed MPA network expansions of various sizes and...

Fifteen case studies in the Baltic Sea, North Sea, EU Atlantic Western Waters and some outermost regions (focusing on the Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands) were selected to gather insights into potential spillover effects of different types of marine protected areas (MPAs). The majority of the...

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are widely recognized as an important tool for biodiversity conservation and fisheries management. Despite empirical evidence that abundance and biomass of fished species increase within MPA boundaries, the potential for MPAs to provide fisheries benefits to...

A sustainable ocean economy, or blue economy, encompasses economic activities utilizing marine resources while prioritizing the long-term health of oceans. While its potential to contribute to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is acknowledged, limited research explores its specific influence on...

This study is the second in a series of three research papers, prepared for a PECH Committee Workshop. It examines the marine biodiversity aspects of the European Green Deal. It explores the challenges and opportunities for the EU fisheries and aquaculture sectors. The present research contains...

This Scoping Report outlines ways to strengthen cooperation between Africa and Europe on ocean governance and blue economy, from which to forge a mutually beneficial roadmap for the two continents in line with the 2030 UN Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals and the AU's Agenda 2063. The...

Natural resources such as carbon, water, and fish are increasingly managed with markets that require an initial allocation of property rights. In practice these rights are typically grandfathered based on historical use, but rights could be allocated any number of ways. Taking the perspective of...

The UN Resolution Transforming our world: “the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” entered the stage from 1 January 2016 on and enshrines 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including 169 targets. This resolution seems to be a conceptual, normative answer to the global fluid pattern...

Seabirds are bioindicators of marine ecosystems and one of the world's most endangered avian groups. The creation of marine protected areas plays an important role in the conservation of marine environment and its biodiversity. The use of top predators distributions, as seabirds, for the...

Non-target marine fish species and ocean ecosystems are increasingly valuable. Ongoing efforts to preserve them emphasize spatial controls on human entry and use via Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). They cover 7.6% of world oceans and aim for 30% by 2030 under the Convention for Biological...

Ocean tourism contributes significantly to the economy of the Philippines, an archipelagic nation with one of the longest coastlines in the world and one of the best marine environments in terms of biodiversity. This paper aims to explore how ocean tourism and economic development intertwine in...

The ocean is vital for life on earth and yet it is under serious threat from climate change and resource overexploitation. Environmental change in the ocean significantly undermines human livelihoods, especially in the developing and least developed countries where people are particularly...

Oceans are vital for Indonesia's economy and social welfare. However, there are challenges to the extent and integrity of Indonesia's marine and coastal ecosystems that, if not managed well, could undermine the potential of Indonesia's ocean economy. Compounding these long-term challenges are...

Purpose - This study investigates whether higher catch rates near a marine protected area (MPA), and/or in other fishing areas within a choice set, attract more fishers. A survey conducted in the fishing grounds near an MPA located in south east of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean shows...

"La gouvernance de la pêche revêt une importance accrue dans un contexte de changement climatique, de raréfaction du poisson et de préexploitation des ressources pétrolières et gaziéres offshore. Au Sénégal, la pêche constitue la principale source de revenu d'au moins 600 000 acteurs...

This report highlights countries' practices in implementing the OECD Council Recommendation on Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development (PCSD). It illustrates how governments can use institutional mechanisms for PCSD to address complex international problems together – including...

The “Blue Economy” is a recent topic of study that spans those economic activities which depend on ecosystem services, thereby including such sectors as tourism, maritime transport, energy, water, fishing, among others. However, there is only limited research approaching the added value...

This dissertation explains how industry actors influence environmental maritime regulation in the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The reason for this topic and focus is the significant implications for the role of private actors in global regulatory affairs, coupled with the relative...