European Ocean Days

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 European Ocean Pact, a reference framework for all EU ocean-related policies.

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. 

Day 1 – Setting the stage with Young Voices for the Ocean (Venue: Sparks)

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 and Oceans. 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 European Ocean Pact.  

Day 2 - Progress in Action: Mission Restore Our Ocean and Waters Forum (Venue: Charlemagne)

The third Annual Forum of the Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters” aims to take stock of the Mission’s progress and major achievements, to mobilise relevant actors around key Mission deliverables and to discuss the needs and strategic steps for reaching the 2030 Mission targets. The event will showcase innovative and concrete solutions developed under the Mission, contributing towards its objectives, discuss how key stakeholders, such as regions, local authorities and the private sectors are involved in implementing the Mission and how different streams of finance are being mobilised to support the scaling and deployment of solutions for reaching the Mission objectives. The event will be an opportunity to discuss the strategic focus of the Mission in the years to come and the necessary steps for the scaling, replication and deployment of innovative solutions developed by the Mission. Moreover, it will be a platform to explore how the Mission can actively contribute to future EU priorities, including the European Ocean Pact. A series of Mission-related events will take place throughout the week.

Day 3 – Immersing in Fisheries and Oceans Dialogues (Venue: Charlemagne/morning & Sparks/morning & afternoon)

At the heart of the Ocean Days lies the Fisheries and Oceans Dialogues: Help Design the European Ocean Pact (taking place at Charlemagne), which will bring together a diverse range of stakeholders from the fisheries, aquaculture, marine renewable energy, and other maritime and blue economy sectors. This session aims at gathering diverse perspectives to foster collaborative discussions, share insights and develop actionable strategies to help design the European Ocean Pact, which will likely pursue three strategic and equally important goals: (i) ensuring a healthy and productive ocean, (ii) boosting the EU’s sustainable blue economy, and (iii) a robust Marine Knowledge Framework, all underpinned by global ocean governance, ocean diplomacy, and with a focus on enhancing resilience for coastal communities and cities.

In the afternoon, BlueInvest Day (organised across two days and taking place at Sparks) 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 sessions.

Day 4 - Investing in a Blue Future (Venue: Sparks)

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 (Venue: Sparks)

Preparation for the European 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 all the components of its value chain: ocean observation, data, research, models and forecasting, assessments and scenario analysis, delivery of this outputs in different forms, including applications under the European Digital Twin Ocean, 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. Sessions on Day 5 will cover a range of important topics relevant for the EU priorities, particularly the European Ocean Pact.

Register via the event website.